18 Feb 2014

Mophato Private School Interact club has decided to extend a helping hand to unfortunate members of the community living in the school’s surroundings.

Speaking at the donation ceremony to give clothing to about 64 members of the community of Coloured, Newstance and Satellite locations in the Francistown East constituency last week, a member of the club Ms Ayanda Shadreck explained that they are students but they wanted to make a difference in the lives of unfortunate members of the community.

She noted that since they attended private school, they tended to be seen to be different from other children, something which was misleading.

Ms Ayanda added that through their social club, they wanted to associate with other students from different background as a way of learning from one another and sharing experiences so that they help one another to enjoy being students and children.

Updating on the establishment of the club, the patron Ms Sibongile Gonah explained that the club started in 2013, made up of 30 volunteer members with the aim of allowing the students to learn to give or share what they have with others that do not have.

Ms Gonah said they emphasised the spirit of giving back because it is the community, which makes them to remain in business and progressive. She pointed out that the club has set itself a mandate to contribute everything they want to give, either food parcels or clothing.

They did such with the support of the parents of the students, and when they started they collected food items, which they gave to Coloured location needy people. This year, they decided to donate clothes with the help of social workers who help in identifying beneficiaries in need of help.

Appreciating the generosity on behalf of the beneficiaries, the area councillor Mr Buti Billy said it is overwhelming to see young children following the footsteps of elders to give to other people.

Cllr Billy noted that although the spirit of giving has been prevailing in Batswana in the olden days, in recent years however it has been dying as people only had focus for their families alone forgetting their needy neighbours.

He said with the people starting to see the importance of giving, it will be upon the parents to encourage their children not to only want to receive but to learn to give back as well, no matter their family backgrounds. The beneficiaries were needy people, orphans and vulnerable children in the three areas. ENDS