18 May 2023

The Embassy of Japan,  safari companies and individuals have contributed to the construction of  a state-of-the-art facility for Bana Ba Letsatsi (BBL) rehabilitation centre on the banks of Thamakane River.

The over P800 000 facility comprises of eight classrooms, three counselling rooms, a library, computer digital rooms, an administration block, reception area and ablution blocks.

Bana Ba Letsatsi is a sanctuary for vulnerable children in Maun and surrounding villages and the centre strives to rehabilitate them back into schools and society.

The Ambassador of Japan to Botswana, Mr Ohmori Setsuo commended the centre's staff during the handing over ceremony for their commitment.

The facility was built through the Japanese government's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security projects, commonly known as GGP.

Mr Setsuo said the facility would support the country's education system as it provided comprehensive services to vulnerable children such as skills training, psycho-social support, counselling and education.

He noted that many children around the world were denied access to education and that their future was bleak, adding that the facility would enable the centre to facilitate learning in a conducive environment.

He also said the facility would assist to accommodate the growing number of beneficiaries and keeping them off the streets to ensure they got the support they needed.

Mr Setsuo said Japan also had many children who did not attend school for various reasons such as poverty, illness and neglect by parents, and that they developed a policy which compelled communities to support children in achieving their goals.

The embassy, he said, also saw it fit to support the centre because it was shaping the future of vulnerable children. Mr Setsuo noted that the GGP programme had benefited more than 60 community based and human centred projects such as the establishment of classroom blocks and rehabilitation centres.

Bana Ba Letsatsi executive director, Ms Taboka Rotsi thanked the embassy for aiding them to achieve their dream of having a place of their own. 

The centre, she said, would accommodate more children because of the spacious facility, noting that initially they accommodated only 13 children, but that they could now accommodate 40 in one classroom. She added that they used porta-cabins, but that they now have spacious classrooms.

She noted that for the past 20 years they had been operating from a residential government house at Chobe ward.

She thanked some safari operators, individuals and the Japanese embassy for supporting the project financially.

Maun East MP, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile also thanked the embassy and safari companies for their noble gesture.

Mr Kekgonegile also appreciated the new technology used to construct the facility. The project include eight classrooms, three counselling rooms, a library, computer digital rooms, an administration block, reception area and ablution blocks. ENDS