Vol.23 No.123

Monday 21 August 2006    
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News
DO Re-Unites With Her 'Children'

By Kagiso Sekokonyane
Staff Writer

8/21/2006 5:13:16 PM (GMT +2)

Last weekend was another good day for Pamela Nasha. The Tonota District Officer (DO) travelled all the way to be re-united with 'her children' at the Gaborone Village District Commissioner's office. Nasha, a former Gaborone DO started and managed a project, which provides food and clothing for street children in the city.


The project started last September is known as Smart Guys and Girls DC Gaborone. Nasha was re-united with her 'children' during a presentation of clothes by Moselewapula Youth Group to the project. It has not been an easy road but her determination has helped her pull through. She is happy that at least, she is giving something back to the society.

"I started by following up these children wherever they were. Initially it was intended for me and them to get to know each other. Of course it was not easy but with time, the situation got better," she said. Nasha said it was important for her to understand the children's problems and to know their level of literacy.

The problems of the street children are many and varied though they are more or less similar. When she sat down with some of them to inquire why they left their homes, they told her that their parents did not treat them well. "One of these boys told me that he decided to leave his home because his parents were always fighting," she explained.

Nasha is proud that she has been able to get some of these children out of the streets, more especially from the dumping sites. Some of them confirmed that they have quit sniffing glue. Nasha is working hard to rehabilitate the children so that they can become productive members of society. She seems to be succeeding in this endeavour. One of the children has already got employment in government while some are in line for jobs. A protege of Nasha, Kabelo Sentle gave testimony that the project has helped him considerably. "I have quit sniffing glue and I have become a better person. Before Mma-Nasha brought us here, we were like wild animals. It was not easy for us to interact with other people," he said. Sentle said when the project started, it appeared as if it will not be sustainable. But he is happy that it carried on and has begun to give good results. He pleaded for donations from members of society.

It appears to be a difficult project to be shouldered by one person but Nasha is not daunted. Last Saturday, she had to travel from Tonota to receive the donations from Mosewapula Youth Group. She has recently been transferred to Tonota where she is setting up a new office. She is now the patron of the project she started in Gaborone.

For her giving to others is not anything new. It runs in the family and it has become a family value. "Even at home in Otse, during Christmas we cook and people come to eat with us," she said. Send us your comments about Mmegi newspaper Search For Old Newspaper Editions To advertise contact us through email

 
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