Orange gives Bana ba Letsatsi a boost

Staff Writer | Tuesday May 28, 2013 00:00

 

The centre provides several services to OVCs ranging from psychosocial support, daily meals, literacy classes, a pre-school programme and transportation of children to and from schools and homes.The Orange donation, which consisted of foodstuff, toiletries and Orange-branded PCs, was presented by the company's Head of Legal and Public Relations, Lepata Mafa, who was accompanied by her team from the engineering, marketing and operations departments.

'The Orange Foundation exists to serve a diversity of needs in the community, priority areas being health, education agriculture and solidarity; solidarity referring to any emerging needs that may require attention,' Mafa said. Mafa explained that they get frequent requests for assistance and that with their strong pool of human resources, which includes qualified and competent engineers, electricians and IT personnel, Orange is in a position to assist in a variety of ways.

'We need to have long-term partnerships with our beneficiaries and stakeholders in order to realize lasting impact in the communities,' she added. Mafa urged the BbL beneficiaries to dream big and not let adverse elements from their past and current situations stop them from achieving their dreams. 'When I was young, I never thought I would one day end up in this position within the Orange Botswana organization,' she said.  BbL Coordinator, Janet Moyo, thanked Orange not only for their donation, but also for their presence, saying the Orange team should not underestimate the impact their presence will have on the children.

'Children need role models, and an organization like Orange can play a major role in shaping our children because for Orange to be what it is, it takes visionary leadership, character and discipline, which are success traits BbL wishes to instill in their beneficiaries through various programmes,' Moyo said.'The little things that we do or say to a child, even a touch, may be insignificant or routine to us, but to the child, they will most likely remember that interaction for a long time after today.'

She encouraged Orange Botswana to go further than supporting physically, but to assist towards the emotional, spiritual, social and intellectual development of the BbL children as well. BbL has been supporting orphans and vulnerable children in Maun for close to 10 years. There are currently around 250 children who are supported in various areas. The organization is dependent on funding by local and international individuals and organizations.