04 Dec 2013

The board member of the Selebi Phikwe Botswana Christian AIDS Intervention Programme (BOCAIP), Mrs Tshepiso Phuthego has appealed to the public and the business sector at large to assist the Selebi Phikwe BOCAIP pre-school financially or in kind.

Mrs Phuthego made the appeal during the school's pre-school graduation ceremony earlier this week where nine boys and 14 girls aged below six years graduated to start primary school next year. She said the school which provided pre-education to 51 children some of whom were orphaned or destitute children, relied on donations and cash contributions as well as a P200 school fee paid for each child to keep the school running.

She explained that the funds accumulated were not enough to pay for rent where they run the school, purchase stationary, books or give out incentives to volunteer teachers and other staff assistants at the school. She commended the Selebi Phikwe Rotary Club for donating P2 000 to the school on a monthly basis to feed the children.

Also, she acknowledged residents of Selebi Phikwe and other businesses Such as Datronics for making contributions in kind and in monetary form to keep the school afloat. Meanwhile during the occasion, Sub Inspector Nketso Raphutshe from Botshabelo Police gave a brief induction on gender based violence and abuse of children.

She noted that the country was still facing a challenge of reducing incidents of women and children abuse. She said cases were still being reported and registered by the police countrywide. She said in most instances, cases of abuse that have been recorded were connected to drunkenness where either male or female or both have been subjected to heavy alcohol intake.

Meanwhile, during the occassion, the President of Selebi Phikwe Rotary Club Mr Ajay Sood handed over Christmas presents on behalf of the rotary club to children at the school comprising of sweets, chocolate, chips, drinks and toiletry while a representative from Datronics retailers in Selebi Phikwe Mr Zhou Jiang Jun also known as Kagiso donated P10 000 to the school, 51 gift bags containing a small blanket, shirt or dress and a cool drink to each child.Ends