09 Feb 2014

A tourist establishment in Kasane, Chobe Safari Lodge, has shown compassion to 23 students from Kachikau Primary School’s special unit for mentally and physically disabled children.

The lodge invited the students on a morning boat cruise in the Chobe River within the Chobe National Park for three hours recently. An official from the lodge’s management, Ms Leanne Britton said a staff member, Ms Lydia Wamulume introduced the school to her.

She added that a visit was scheduled and the lodge had been giving a helping hand ever since May last year. Ms Britton said the lodge was motivated by the country’s Vision 2016 pillar of being a compassionate, just and caring nation. Furthermore, she noted that the boat cruise’s main aim was to allow employees to interact with the children.

She said she believed that this would somehow contribute to dispelling the stigma the society has towards those who have disabilities, stressing that financial aid is not the only thing that the children need, that love and affection goes a long way too.

Ms Britton added that the lodge has also concluded to adopt the school to answer the plea that the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) had made to the public and business entities. The school’s teacher, Mr Sydney Mandigo said that the lodge has really shown compassion towards the students.

He stated that the boat cruise is not the only gesture of care that the students have received from the lodge, noting that they have had numerous visits from staff members, and an invitation to the 2013 Christmas party.

The lodge celebrates every year with the less fortunate children of Kasane and has donated towards the Special Olympics programme for the past two consecutive years.

Mr Mandigo said that many people did not know about the school until they issued out letters which requested for donations towards the school’s Special Olympics programme.

The Principal Education Secretary, Ms Faith Tshekiso said that Chobe Safari Lodge is one of many companies in Kasane that assists the school where possible.

She also commended individual businesses such as Pizza Plus, churches and various government departments that have donated items ranging from food parcels, linen, electrical appliances and toiletry towards the students welfare.

Ms Tshekiso added that the school would be grateful if they received volunteers who would aid with speech and physical therapy because it is a challenge to travel to the nearest facilities that provide such services.

She said the school has set aside the first term holidays for counselling and therapy, either in Francistown or Maun to prevent the student’s studies being affected by these appointments. ENDS