07 Jul 2025

The Mercy Hand Foundation has donated  65 pairs of shoes, stationery and 144 packets of sanitary pads to Gakgatla Primary School pupils in the Thamaga/ Kumakwane Constituency.

Speaking during the donation on Thursday, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Mpho Morapedi said the donation would address shortages experienced by the disadvantaged pupils in the community and afforded them the opportunity to excel in their studies. 

“We are aware that the news generation is affected by issues of  mental health, depression and high levels of stress, and through a noble gesture by Mr Kabelo Rampe of Mercy Hand Foundation Trust alongside his sponsors, Vision Optical Centre, we can confidently say that a lot of parents have been relieved of some of their worries”, he said.

Mr Morapedi applauded the foundation for their mission to promote the rights, needs and welfare of the less privileged population through advocacy, education, care and support together with community mobilisation throughout Botswana. He reminded the pupils of the importance of education as key to unlocking their dreams, successes and wishes, adding that as future leaders, he trusted that they would also grow in the spirit of giving and sharing the little they had with others.

When giving an overview of the donation, founding director of Mercy Hand Foundation Mr Rampe said he saw a Facebook post on the May 21^st by Mr Tumi Learabea where his organisation was tagged and it showed the dire needs of students of Gakgatla primary school. He said they then responded positively to the plea and he engaged his sponsors who likewise saw the need to give and assist the students. The Mercy Hand founder applauded Mr Learabea for making use of the technology to seek help. 

One of the pupils, Katso Tsiaka said they were grateful for the donation as it would restore their dignity. He said sometimes they came to school tired and hungry as they had to walk long distances to school. This he said did not deter them because they were committed to their education which was important to their future. Katso thanked the sponsors for thinking about them as the donation had been received with warm hearts and would change their fate to secure a better destiny.

In his welcome remarks, Gakgatla Primary School head, Mr Isaac Barwabatsile said the school had an uptake of 314 pupils and 35 were to sit for the Primary School Leaving Examination  end of the year. He said their biggest challenge was the distances most of the pupils walked to school. Mr Barwabatsile said some came as far as five kilometres daily and by the time they reached the school they were usually tired. 

When giving vote of thanks, area councillor, Mr Duncan Ramasiagopana applauded the foundation for coming on board to help the school more so that they were answering the call by President Boko who recently launched the Sanitary Pads Initiative to give dignity to school girls. He said the donation would help address the need that already existed and pupils would now come to school without a shame. ENDS