11 Jul 2024

Women Against Rape (WAR) in collaboration with Spar Botswana stores in Maun have launched Soup kitchen at Boyei kgotla, the purpose of which is to fight hunger and poverty among children.

Through the programme, the organisations intend to feed children and elders every weekend to take the burden off caretakers such as older siblings, grandparents.

At times children are simply left on their own while parents or carers work late.

Speaking during the launch of the initiative Wednesday, WAR executive director, Ms Peggy Ramaphane said reports indicated that the North West region was hard hit by poverty hence the organisation’s partnership with Spar stores to operate children’s soup kitchen to save them from malnutrition and hunger.

She said children were affected by poverty as some families were economically challenged while some were left on their own as their parents went out to fend for them.

“Because of unbearable living conditions in some homes, children ended up roaming shopping complexes scavenging bins to find something to eat and as result labelled as ‘bobashi’.

Through this initiative we intend to fill the gap by providing at least a meal in a day,” she added.

Ms Ramaphane further noted that poverty could also perpetuate gender-based violence and poor upbringing of children citing that lack of economic resources could create patterns of violence and poverty that become self-perpetuating, making it extremely difficult for the victims to extricate themselves.

Furthermore, she highlighted that during COVID-19 pandemic, many families experienced extreme hunger because of movement restriction and hence they were assisted through government’s COVID-19 food relief.

She also acknowledged that the government also introduced feeding programme in primary schools where pupils were provided two meals a day.

The meal was provided in the morning before the beginning of class and another meal at midday.

“This feeding programme ensures that children do not feel hungry during school days and most importantly contributes to the children’s daily nutritional requirements.

And I thank Spar stores for partnering with us to assist with vegetables and fruits which provide vitamins to the children,” she said.

Ms Ramaphane appreciated that children were fed during the week at schools and the challenge was on weekends hence their initiative.

WAR is an organisation that primarily support abused women and children and addresses the issues that contribute to their abuse.

Safari Spar manager, Ms Oboetswe Kebadile said they came on board to because they saw the need to complement what WAR was doing to protect children and women from gender-based violence

The organisation, she appreciated, was doing a great job in addressing social issues that contributed to abuse of women and children by offering psychosocial counselling and shelter among others.

“Gender-based violence affects all and as Spar managers in Maun saw it fit to support the WAR in its mandate and if the soup kitchen initiative can produce expected results, we intend to extend it to other wards in Maun.

We believe that together we can win the battle against gender-based violence and create a safe and secure district,” she added.

Ms Kebadile also noted that other Spars stores in other districts were doing the same to give back to the community by feeding the less underprivileged members of the community.

Boyei social worker, Mr Isaac Kamununu thanked both Spar and WAR management for the noble gesture, saying what they were doing was in line with the government’s mind-set change agenda which calls all to embrace change and forge partnerships to impact positively on the lives of the needy persons.

Partnerships, he said were critical as they had the potential to develop villages and promote quality life amongst the community.

He said the initiative would augment the government efforts to care for the needy. Ends