Masilo calls on companies to help charity

Mpho Mokwape | Monday March 17, 2014 15:29

 

The centre helps 120 vulnerable children in Gabane  village. Masilo was speaking at an even to accept hampers from two companies he had appealed for help from, Pula Supplies and Apex Properties.

The centre, the brainchild of Martinah and Morgan Mogapi, offers orphans and vulnerable children aged five to 15 years Bible lessons, counseling sessions and other life support skills for two hours every Friday and Saturday. The family also provides meals to the children.

“They love this place, they benefit a lot; all of them are school going children, which is really good. But I have observed that as early as 1pm, the children are here waiting for the 3pm lessons to start. At the centre we provide them with food also, and clothes, where possible,” Masilo said.

Speaking to The Monitor after the Friday donation, the managing director of Pula Supplies, Ishtiaq Rehman Raja said this was part of the company’s community social responsibility. He explained that he has been involved in charity work for a long time and noted that Sedibeng’s relentless work motivated the donation.

“The community is the backbone of our businesses hence I often find it very fitting to give back and I am glad that I have also been involved with the President’s appeal of housing for the underprivileged,” said Raja.

The centre caretaker, Martinah said she was happy that companies are continuing to support their effort to try and bridge the gap of poverty and help orphans and vulnerable children.

Mogapi explained that the family formed Sedibeng in 2008 after realising that there were many children in Gabane who needed parental guidance and care. She said most of her clients are children who lost their parents at an early age and leaving them vulnerable to abuse. “We only started with 10 children and currently we have 120 children and despite not having enough space at home we still hope to take in more children to care for in the future,” she said.

In addition to providing from family resources, Martinah acknowledged the help they get from individuals and companies. She said they have partnered with Fly Mission Botswana, which comprises of volunteers from countries such as the United States of America, Switzerland and Denmark. “Fly Mission has been assisting us with facilitators to help in our programmes of HIV/AIDS and they also helped with the money that registered the Trust Fund as we hope to get a piece of land where a proper structure would be built,” she said.