25 Mar 2024

Palapye District Council recently commemorated World Home Economics Day under the theme: Home Economics 3.0, a Critical Update.

The theme highlighted the need for home economists to introspect, assess and evaluate how they had been engaging with the community and ways to embrace technology to keep the discipline the leading edge of 21^st century.

Speaking at the commemoration, chairperson of Community Development and Social Services (CDSS), Councillor Segametsi Ralegoreng acknowledged the work that home economists continued to do by empowering Batswana through different means.

Ms Ralegoreng said the home economics division was charged with early childhood education, the rehabilitation of temporary destitute persons, skills development and the monitoring of wealth creation beneficiaries.

She said giving children the best start in life was one of the most important responsibilities and that the home economics division was responsible for establishing health and safety in early childhood care and education centres by mounting inspections, monitoring and ensuring early stimulation took place.

She noted that there were 29 day care centres registered with Palapye District Council, and that the council ensured that the schools had modern teaching facilities and gadgets to ease learning and teaching.

Ms Ralegoreng said due to modern technology home economists were now able to impart skills and knowledge on the nutritional value of foods that could be fed to toddlers at schools under their care as well as accessing teaching materials.

She said in the social welfare division, had registered temporary destitute persons who were temporarily incapacitated. Some, she explained, were victims of accidents, natural disasters, ill health and other natural disaster declared by the President.

She added that through their rehabilitation programme, the home economics division provided such individuals with relevant skills, knowledge and the right attitude to engage in sustainable economic and social activities.

To ensure that those poverty-stricken were able to provide for themselves and their families, she said the council implemented a wealth creation programme.

Ms Ralegoreng highlighted that in Palapye District 310 beneficiaries had been assisted through the programme and had been trained in various projects ranging from fashion design, bakery, food catering and upholstery. ENDS