'No Child Should Walk Barefoot To School'

Correspondent | Monday January 28, 2019 15:28

From Left is Captain Phatsima Kgole Hon Coucillor M.Tshenyego Eddie Mdluli Admin Mazhar from the business community and Kgosi Malang Philip Galeatle

Pupils, more especially in rural area, would benefit from the initiative that should resonate with another initiative, Leave-No-Child-Behind-For-African-Development. Dare-to-Dream is a social enterprise dedicated to the advancement of youth, women and girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Aviation and Aerospace, as well as equipping the upcoming generation with business and entrepreneurial skills. The first 100 pairs of shoes were donated to school children in Serinane, a village 40km from Molepolole on the way to Letlhakeng. Dare-to-Dream was founded by one of the first female military pilots in the Botswana Defence Force, Captain Kgomotso Phatsima, in partnership with Fair Price Group.

These included school shoes, Gucci shoes, Nike shoes, Adidas and Lacoste shoes and sandals. In welcoming and appreciating the gifts, Serinane Kgosi, Malang Phillip Galeatle indicated that efforts made by Dare-to-Dream will be forever appreciated. He indicated that he would be glad if their noble gesture could go across villages in Botswana and not only be limited to theirs.

He said that accepting the gifts from Dare-to-Dream was an inspiration on its own for residents of that village, that they also should give back to the society.

Captain Phatsima, and the Dream Team had a brief interactive session with the children over cupcakes. The children got a chance to ask her questions concerning aviation. She highlighted that she was not there to make all of them pilots, but to motivate and inspire the next generation of STEM Aviation Business Leaders, in order to contribute positively towards the country’s vision of achieving a knowledge-based economy and the Agenda 2063 of the Africa We Want.

The Dream Team promised Serinane Primary School headteacher that they will come back and partner with the school in order to try and improve the academic performance of the school.

Residents expressed their heartfelt gratitude and chanted songs of appreciation with lyrics repeatedly mentioning Captain Phatsima’s name and a poem dedicated to her. Village leaders and a number of dignitaries from different government departments graced the event.

The Dream Team appeals to individuals, members of the community, business community and interested parties to partner with Dare-to-Dream in their cause.