Astely Gops, Captain Dira perform for charity

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Staff Writer | Thursday August 22, 2013 00:00

 

According to Gops, the money raised will be used to build a two and half house for an old woman in Kanye.  A young woman from the same village, 18-year-old Ratang Mosweu, brought her plight to the artists' attention.'I was inspired by the bravery shown by the young woman.  It is not common for people her age to show so much interest in helping others.  As a musician, I said to myself when she approached me, 'since I do not have money or anything to contribute towards such a noble cause why don't I use my talent' and then I approached Captain Dira to also help,' Gops told Showbiz.  The group has already performed at the Miss Poverty Eradication beauty contest in Kanye last month in an event that was also organised by Mosweu.

Mosweu, a former Francistown Senior School student, is in the process of registering Ratang Charitable Foundation.  She said she was moved by an encounter she had with the old woman one day when she saw her battling to remove water from her dilapidated mud house.  It was upon seeing this struggle that she decided to find a way to help her.'One day I had just returned from visiting my grandfather when I saw this old woman trying to remove water from her house, hanging up her worn blankets on the clothes line because they were soaked.  I went into the yard to help. She lives alone and although my initial intention was just to help remove the water, later it occurred to me as we conversed that she needed more help than that,' Mosweu told Showbiz.She related the story to her parents who assured her of their support and advised her to start a charitable organisation.

After she appealed to businesses and individuals, she received some building materials such as bricks, sand and cement.  She is now working towards raising money for roofing materials and others.  'People have shown the will to help.  We are confident the house will be complete by the end of the year and then we can identify another cause,' she said.  Gops also noted to help Ratang achieve her goal, they were planning a national tour that they hoped would not only help raise enough to complete the house in Kanye but enough to help other people in other parts of the country.  'After Gabane, we will be going to Kgalagadi, Ghanzi, Maun, Kasane, Serowe, Palapye and then  we will return to Gaborone,' Gops said.  He also said they are open to including more musicians who may be interested in participating.