BCL ploughs over P3m into Botshabelo project
Onalenna Kelebeile | Wednesday April 1, 2015 11:49
The main anchor of the centre will be a non-profit making Humana People to People, which is a Child Aid project.
Part of the project money was raised by BCL employees who contributed a day from their leave days that was converted into money while Glencore Nickel, a company that recently celebrated their 30th corporate partnership with BCL pledged a donation of P500,000.
BCL’s public relations and marketing manager James Molosankwe said during the groundbreaking ceremony that the highest number of days given to the project was three. The mine employees also worked on the site to clear the bushes and fence the area during the weekend.
The company’s managing director Daniel Mahupela said as the mine had been operating for a long time in Selebi-Phikwe it was up to BCL to show the town’s leadership that there are members of the society that are less privileged.
“The best contribution we can make is to make sure that the less privileged youth receive the best opportunity to education. There is no better inheritance you can afford the youth than laying a strong foundation for education,” he said.
He highlighted that the HIV/AIDS impact in the mining town with a record of the highest prevalence rate in the country, has had a devastating impact on most families leading to some children losing proper support systems. “It is for this reason that we found it necessary to provide a safety net to lay a foundation for these children,” he added. Head of Glencore Nickel Kenny Ives said he also experienced the impact of HIV/AIDS as one of his family members passed away as result of the disease.
“So when I was approached to assist BCL on the project I became happy. Our support will not only end with the P500,000 but we will also try and mobilise some assistance for the beneficiaries of this project in the form of clothing hampers and others. I just can’t wait to come back here to see Phase 1 of the project complete,” he added.
Ives said he was very impressed with what BCL is doing to plough back to the community. “Yes, we support each other commercially but this project is about the community,” he added.
Selebi-Phikwe Town Council on the other hand pledged a sponsored walk from Gaborone to Selebi-Phikwe in June this year as its contribution into the project. Deputy mayor Molefhi Pilane said the council would provide land for the project fully understanding the importance of the project to the community that has sustained the mine this far. He said the council offices are open for any assistance.
Child Aid is reliant on donations from individuals and organisations and is currently operating from rented premises and paying excessive fees. The organisation’s officials promised that they would use the facility to build a base in terms of a strong education foundation for the beneficiaries to enable them to reach greater heights in life.