Recession disrupts youth programme

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Monday May 3, 2010 00:00

 

Speaking in an interview, KFT Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sylvester Masweu, explained that economic recession has affected Barkan Holdings, a company that has been sponsoring the trust since its establishment.

'We are not making any profit at the moment and the situation has forced us to stop KFT projects that we had planned to do in 2010,' he remarked. Masweu said one of the major projects that were planned for this year was the School of Industry in Gumare.  He said that a school is a massive project that needs a lot of money and they are currently seeking donations from across the country and even outside Botswana. Masweu called upon government to assist them. He said that the aim of the school is to rehabilitate out of school youth and convicts who should get an education. Masweu also said that the school will be a shelter for abused children up to 18 years old. He said since KFT was established two years ago, it has embarked on a variety of life-changing projects in and around Selebi-Phikwe.

'We sponsored a student who has completed his Form Five last year though he did not perform well. I think he did not perform well due to the conditions that he grew up in.

'His father killed his mother before committing suicide and during the funeral, his grandmother had a heart attack and died. He was left as the caretaker of his young brothers and sisters at a young age. The youngster needed counselling from social workers but he did not get it,' he said. KFT, together with First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) bought an electric chair for a disabled girl in Selebi-Phikwe in 2008. He noted that it was unfortunate that the young girl died before using the wheelchair to the fullest.  The Trust has also managed to donate P7, 000 to the Botswana Chess Federation.

Masweu said the aim of KFT is to advocate for children's rights, especially on farms and cattle posts.  He said they have established that there are many children in these areas who are involved in child labour and they are denied their rights such as going to school, and access to proper health care.

'We have taken upon ourselves to educate Batswana about child labour that is rampant in rural areas. The most affected are males and females who become wives before their time,' said Masweu. The KFT boss pointed out that children in farms inherit work there because their parents had worked there before they were born. He called on the government to place social workers in hard-to-reach places instead of waiting for clients in offices.

'Those people will not come to the offices because they do not have the knowledge. Social workers must have the capacity to go out there and assist these children. They must remove them from the farms and place them in schools,' he said.   The CEO explained that places near Selebi-Phikwe have been fortunate to get help from social workers. Masweu observed that the government has not done enough to eliminate child labour and the existing laws do not address the problem.

He suggested that the government must make it an offence for anybody who hires a child on any job.   He pointed out that there are some people who believe that unless a child is not hurt then it is fine for them to work and that is wrong.