18 Dec 2013

Ngwana Enterprises Digital Language Lab which specialises in educating children using modern technology initiatives has pledged to engage and educate disabled children in Francistown for free.

Speaking at the lab’s Digital Christmas and Disability thanksgiving ceremony at Tuskers Rugby Club in Francistown , the company’s chief executive officer, Mr Mooketsi Tekere said during his company’s registration they realised that majority of Batswana particularly parents of children with disabilities seemed not to understand that their children just like any normal person have human rights. 

Mr Tekere highlighted that unlike other normal children; disabled children were kept in isolation and were never seen in the public arena.

He noted that this prompted them to do something positive which would help empower these children so that they could also feel loved and appreciated by the communities as well as their families.

Thus, through the Christmas and disability thanksgiving they intended to help empower them and expose them to technologies which their counterparts are enjoying while they are kept in isolation. Empowering people living with disability would give them an opportunity to make their own choices with regards to the future, such as venturing into the field of entrepreneurship.

This field, Mr Tekere noted has not been exposed to them due to discrimination and parents being embarrassed to take them to places where they could learn about such things.

“I am going to educate and train these children at no cost at the lab so that they too are on the same platform as their normal friends,” he said.

Meanwhile, the deputy mayor, Ms Joyce Ndove said that disability should not be seen as a barrier for one to live his or her dreams noting that disabled children do not want to leave from handouts but they want to be nurtured into responsible citizens.

Ms Ndove said it was time that parents of disabled children take centre stage in ensuring that their children get a better future by supporting them instead of leaving the responsibility entirely on the government.

Ngwana Enterprises also donated school packs and toys which would be handed over to Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital and the city council disability unit. About 1000 children attended the Christmas party. ENDS