Rotary Club celebrates Kamogelo milestone
Staff Writer | Tuesday September 15, 2015 15:19
The orphanage, which accommodates 200 children, was built in 2005 at a cost of P2.4 million.
Before that, the day care centre was operating from a hall at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, which was all that could be made available to them. The hall was used for shelter when it was too hot or too cold and when it rained. The remainder of the time, the children ate outdoors and were taught at tables and chairs set out in a classroom arrangement.
Speaking at a lunch meeting to celebrate the 10-year milestone last Friday, RCG President Itamar Azoulay said the idea of the orphanage was mooted in 1996 when the then club president, Brian Jacques and Chairman of Community Services, Rotarian Barney O’ Reilly and the Tirisanyo Catholic Commission identified the requirement for a day care centre because of the impact that HIV/AIDS was having on families in Mogoditshane and nearby villages.
“Rotary President Brian Jacques and Rotarian Barney O’Reilly then convinced the Rotary Club members of the need for the facility and a decision was made to raise the funds required to build a day care centre.
“It was agreed by two parties that the Tirisanyo Catholic Commission would obtain a suitable piece of land and would run the day care centre. The Rotary Club of Gaborone then went on a fund-raising campaign that raked-in the required P2.4 million to build the children’s day care centre which would cater for 200 orphans,” he said.
Between 1996 to 2001, the Rotarians raised the required P2.4 million to construct the day care centre by holding sponsored walks, wine auctions, international gala dinners and corporate golf days.
Other organisations such as FNBB foundation, US embassy and Inner Wheel Club of Gaborone also made contributions towards the fund.
“On behalf of the Rotary, I would like to thank all those who so willingly contributed in effort, time and money to make a difference in the lives of all those little children, who over the past 10 years have enjoyed and benefitted from their generosity. Hopefully many others will continue to benefit from your act of kindness, far into the future,” said past RCG president Lalith Senarathe.
Formed in the early 1970s, the RCG has close to 50 members who are professionals working in Gaborone and surrounding areas.
Its other major projects include the refurbishment of Deborah Retief Memorial Hospital in Mochudi in the 1990s at a cost of more than P1.8 million and the Bana ba Keletso Orphans Day Care Centre Phase II whose construction was completed in 2006 at a cost that exceeded P850,000. The club has also arranged medical camps that brought diagnosis to disadvantaged people in Gaborone and peripheral areas, collected food stuff from the public for donation to orphans, as well as donating P25,000 in May 2006 for the formation of Tshedisa Institute, which is a care centre for Aids care workers and medical staff.