18 Aug 2025

In a powerful collaboration set to change the lives of vulnerable children, the Boswa Culinary Institution and Lorato House Rescue Centre have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together on initiatives supporting orphans and vulnerable children in Maun.

The partnership will bring together culinary expertise and compassionate care to offer a brighter future for the 71 children currently housed at the centre. Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony recently, Love Botswana and Lorato House director, Dr Jana Lackey, said Lorato House currently housed 71 children aged from zero to 16 and was nearing capacity. 

“Numbers are continuously rising, hence members of the public interested in adoption should register with their local council offices as we await the adoption and foster care system rollout,” Dr Lackey said.

While the North West District Council was still in the process of launching its adoption programme, Dr Lackey encouraged families to prepare by requesting home assessments from social workers in their areas to facilitate the process.

“No child should grow up in foster care. Every child deserves to have a mother and father to guide them through life,” she said.

She noted that adoption efforts had already begun in other regions, citing the North East District where two children were expected to be adopted within the next two weeks. Reflecting on the origins of Lorato House, Dr Lackey said the centre was established 27 years ago after she and her husband moved to Botswana in 1987.

“We encountered a baby left without a family at Maun General Hospital after the mother’s passing. Moved by the situation, we partnered with government and community stakeholders to create a safe haven. That same child is now 30-years-old and currently serves at Lorato House, a full-circle moment of hope and purpose,” she said.

Boswa Culinary Institution deputy principal, Mr Boisi Dibuile, outlined their commitments under the MoU, which he said included hosting quarterly birthday celebrations for children at the centre, sponsoring learners from Lorato House and regularly visiting the facility to assist with day-to-day activities.

Mr Dibuile also revealed that Boswa’s teaching staff would train the kitchen team at Lorato House and spend time with the children to build bonds and offer practical support. For her part, Boswa Culinary Institute of Botswana founder, Chef Rebecca Pheko, highlighted the institution’s mission to empower aspiring chefs with world-class training. 

“Boswa is here to bridge the gap by equipping learners with the education and training needed to join world-class chefs and successfully compete in the global culinary arena,” she said.

She said the institution was committed to nurturing culinary talent across Botswana, preparing learners not only for local opportunities but also for international careers in the food and hospitality industry. Lorato House Rescue Centre operates under Love Botswana Outreach Mission and provides 24-hour care to orphans and vulnerable children, including those living with disabilities. The centre offers a safe, nurturing environment for children affected by abuse, neglect or abandonment, while also supporting emotional healing and long-term placement planning. ENDS