Ministry refurbishes Mpule Kwelagobe Centre

Lebogang Baingapi | Tuesday April 25, 2017 16:43

The staff from the Ministry, town leadership and civil servants joined hands to paint and refurbish the home of vulnerable children to give it a new look.

The centre was constructed by Debswana Jwaneng Mine and named after Mpule Kwelagobe who won the title of Miss Universe in 1999. It accommodates under-privileged and orphaned children between 0-18 years when the family structure has failed dismally.

The senior manager-corporate services from the Ministry, Lopang Pule highlighted that they chose to spend time in Jwaneng to serve the children of Mpule Kwelagobe, and particularly to show the vulnerable children that they were not forgotten.

“One of our mandate as the people’s ministry is to take our services to the people especially vulnerable and disadvantaged ones. The different activities we render to the public during community service day really change lives,” he said.

Majwe Mining Joint Venture donated safety equipments and P10,000 cash towards the event. The company’s spokesperson, Archibald Ngakayagae said his company has been part of the children centre for years through donating school uniforms and tutoring slow learners.

The Mayor, Tsietsi Oodira-Kwenje also acknowledged the ministry and stakeholders for remembering Mpule Kwelagobe Centre in their busy schedules. He said the centre was in a bad state and needed people who could volunteer their time to come and assist to uphold the dignity of a home.

“We are more than happy as the town leadership for the gesture and we hope the refurbishment will refresh dwellers of this centre,” he said.

Activities of the day included painting, pruning of the orchard, cutting of trees and planting of vegetables at the garden. 

The centre provides temporary residential care, support and protection to orphan and vulnerable children.

Currently it has an enrolment of 50 children, 23 girls and 27 boys. The admission is done through the help of a social worker and the need is committed through a Court order.

All community-based interventions should have been exhausted prior to residential admission.