ABM Donates P900,000 to SOS
Monkagedi Gaothobogwe | Monday November 9, 2015 11:53
Announcing the deal and handing over the first cheque of P300,000 at a gala dinner at the GICC ABM executive director Daisy Molefhi described her gesture as a drop in the ocean as she said the SOS village’s national budget runs into P19 million a year. She urged the local corporate sector and individuals to stand up and support the SOS village as its objectives of taking care of the vulnerable, homeless and abandoned children is very noble. Molefhi says when she was approached for support a few years ago, she initiated a six week research about the SOS and found that their objectives cannot be ignored especially that children do not choose to be abandoned, orphaned, or vulnerable, adding that it is a circumstance that can happen to any child growing up, and therefore those more fortunate have the responsibility to come on board and assist. Molefhi says the SOS Village has been of late been faced with serious financial challenges that forced them to close down kindergartens around the country, and lay off workers.
Earlier on, the SOS village chairman, Major General Bakwena Oitsile told the audience that they used to get 70% of their funding from abroad before the economic hardships in Europe forced their mother body to drastically cut down on their subventions.
The highlight of the night was when a graduate of SOS, now a student at Marua-A-Pula, narrated how SOS gave him the opportunity to study at a prestigious school, as well as giving him the love and care as sweet as any best parental care. The youngster who is completing form VI announced he was on his way to doing a medical degree overseas, and promised to come back home and serve his country as well as support the SOS. ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� of abusing alcohol,” said Dlamini adding that some children stay with their grandparents who struggle to put food on the table due to old age. Dlamini said the majority of youth in the village have a tendency of abandoning their kids and leaving them under the care of their parents to go and work for low paying jobs in towns.
Dlamini pleaded with members of the community to give them any kind of assistance in order to feed the learners. The village chief, Mosalagae Galebonwe, said that he has heard rumours about the matter and promised to follow it up. “I have heard that there will be a Kgotla meeting to address the matter,” said Galebonwe.
Galebonwe said the majority of families in Jamataka live in abject poverty, are unemployed and are struggling to feed their families. He said that the majority of the people are given the destitute ration that should last them up to a month but he does not know why the children are having little or no food at their homes. The school head of Jamataka Primary School declined to comment on the matter.