SOS boss calls for premeditated budget for children
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Tuesday January 20, 2015 15:37
Speaking during a donation ceremony sponsored by Zac Construction held at SOS Village in Tlokweng on Saturday, Kitso said it was high time the government made a premeditated budget, as the grant given to SOS was not enough to sustain children’s needs and sustain Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
“We exist to complement government’s Children’s Act and legislation. We are here to help the government give as many children as possible a home so we lobby the government to its funds,” he said.
He also urged the government to exempt companies involved in social responsibility activity as this would motivate many companies in the country to support NGOs.
Kitso used the example of the South African government, which xempted companies engaged in social responsibility programmes. “This has encouraged many companies to sponsor many NGOs. We have big companies in the country, which do not contribute a penny towards social responsibility. They instead take money from our country and support NGOs in their countries. If you can go to SA, you will find out that many NGOs are independent and able to sustain themselves because many companies make pledges,” he added.
He noted that many companies did not contribute to social responsibility efforts because of high taxes.
Kitso explained SOS was caring for children as an investment in the country’s social and economic future. These children are allowed to hope for a healthy and more stable future.
“When a child is orphaned or abandoned, we provide them with a loving family home in an SOS Children’s Village,” he said.
Kitso decried the ignorance of many people who he said did not understand the plight of vulnerable children, some of whom landed in SOS villages.
“When you eat and live comfortably, a child next door wants to taste that delicious food. TSuch children may be tempted to find a way to eat that food.
They will find a way to also access that glamorous life. We know that in most cases those children will become involved in criminal activities. That is why it is important to give children support,” he said.
Giving a vote of thanks, SOS village director Molefe Madikwe called on the community and companies to give a helping hand to the less privileged, as it was a Biblical principle.
Zac Construction’s donation was an act of adopting a block of houses at SOS village in Tlokweng. On the day, the company painted and refurbished the house.