OLDM,business partners donate to Makgadikgadi JSS

Palesa Gaselabone | Monday November 27, 2023 06:00

Pabalelo Nkhwalume, OLDM Senior Mining Manager (left), and Nkarabang Nkarabang, Makgadikgadi JSS School principal (right), unveil the Smart STEM Hub plaque

The donation is part of the mine’s efforts to uplift communities within its zone of influence through its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiative. The facility is equipped with 11 laptops, a printer, state-of-the-art furniture, STEM books and learning kits, a smart TV set, internet connectivity, and tablets. In addition to the hub, the school received a P30, 000 cash donation.

Employees in the mining department facilitated the donation through the company’s ‘employee volunteerism initiative.’ The initiative encourages OLDM workers to support community initiatives within the mine’s zone of influence. Business partners who supported the mining department include Epiroc, Kanu Equipment, Grand Millennium Investment, Team Engineers, AECI (African Explosives Limited), Rivoliyer Holdings, Grimstone Mining Services, P&C Services, The Dons Group, Scelesto Music, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, University of Botswana, Boom Tech, and Drilling Project Services. Pabalelo Nkhwalume, the senior mining manager of OLDM said the donation is aimed at promoting sustainable development in communities within the mine’s zone of influence. He noted that the hub will serve as a platform to give students access to resources meant to enhance their performance in STEM subjects. Pabalelo added that the school management should safeguard the hub and ensure that it is efficiently utilised. In his welcome address, Makgadikgadi school head, Nkarabang Nkarabang greatly welcomed the gesture from OLDM and business partners.

He pointed out that the school faces several challenges such as shortage of resources meant to support learning, most notably in STEM subjects. "We look at the future with certainty because of you. Continue supporting us so that we can provide you with value for your investment over time.

The handover of the STEM hub is a significant milestone and something we will forever cherish,” he said. He also emphasised that the government views education as a vital cog in the country's development. He reiterated that the government will always embrace private sector driven initiatives meant to improve the standard of education in the country.