DTCB Donates Music Hall, Instruments
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Monday August 7, 2017 16:52
A the occasion, DTC Botswana’s managing, Tabake Kobedi expressed his delight at the company’s association with the centre saying that it offered a critical service to a deserving group of people. “Today marks one of DTC Botswana’s milestones in our quest to support members of our communities who more often than not are relegated to obscurity by society. This support is in line with one of the five values that we live by at DTC Botswana, namely, ‘Show we Care’, which directs us to be sensitive to the needs of people around us and offer them support,” he said.
Kobedi added that they were adhering to the country’s Vision 2036 pillar of Human and Social Development.
He said one of the aims of that pillar stated that people living with disabilities and the elderly will be empowered to have equal access to services and socio-economic opportunities enjoyed by all Batswana. He said policies, programmes and laws would be reviewed including infrastructure development to accommodate the needs and interests of people living with disabilities and the elderly.
He also emphasised that one group that needs special attention was of people with disabilities because oftentimes their condition interferes with many aspects of their lives.
Kobedi added that some people with those challenges were unable to go to school or find employment in everyday social actives. He, therefore, pointed out that it is important to ensure that they are fully supported in order for them to live life to the fullest.
“Through the different services that it offers, the Mochudi Resource Centre for the Blind will make it possible for the visually challenged people in this country to maximise their functional ability.
DTC Botswana’s corporate social investment policy fits in perfectly with the national vision. We are mindful of the need to enable people to realise their full potential so that they can lead (functional) lives and contribute meaningfully to national development,” Kobedi added.
He said establishment of well-developed and self-sustaining rehabilitation centres for children with visual challenges was very critical to provide for comprehensive support towards the learning of children and security of their future. Kobedi explained that DTC Botswana answered the centre’s call for help as they found it fit to support it over a three-year period, which started in October 2014.
He added that DTC Botswana had provided them with specialised educational equipment, braille and computers, constructed a music block and supplied the equipment. “The braille and computer equipment transcribe books and any other written material such as newspapers into braille, enabling the visually impaired to read the material.
Before our partnership with the centre, books were transcribed manually. This provided a lengthy process, which led to only a few reading materials to be transcribed.
With the procurement of braille and computer equipment, the centre has been able to transcribe materials for other institutions and stakeholders, thereby helping the centre generate its own income,” he said.