Windfall for Pudulogong Rehabilitation Centre
That’s true for three friends – Mbatshi Petto, Katlego Pone and Alexander Vista – who decided to gift some 25 students at Pudulogong Rehabilitation Centre in Mochudi with warm blankets Wednesday this week to keep them safe
from the elements this winter.
The trio has just finished their Form 5 at Maru-A-Pula secondary in Gaborone and are all waiting to go to varsity. Petto explained that at school they were involved in philanthropic services, and now that they are at home sans any prompting from teachers, they decided to do something for the community, especially for those living with disabilities.
Since Alexander’s aunty, Cory Janet lives in Mochudi and runs Golden Star funeral parlour in Pilane, the trio got to know about the plight of the blind students at Pudulogong.
That’s when they decided to get them something to keep them warm this winter. The event was graced by Kgosi Bana Sekai, who was described as a great patron and supporter of the centre, as well as the Centre Coordinator, David Ratsatsi, parents of the benefactors and the Centre Matron, Francinah Motsumi. Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Centre Public Relations Officer, Ilan Ngwato said they are an NGO that started in 1982 as an initiative of the Dutch Reformed Church. The centre currently has 25 students drawn from all over the country – all boarders – who are fed four meals a day. The students are taught to write using Perkins Braiile. The Centre offers rehabilitation and business studies, agriculture and music. The students are taught to walk using the white cane. Ngwato said most of their challenges are financial since the subsidy they receive from government through the Department of Special Support Services (DSSS) only covers 80percent of their recurrent budget while they rely on donor funding for their development budget. The excitement was apparent in the students’ demeanour as they received their gifts, which included a blanket, candies and a meal. Giving a vote of thanks, President of the Student Representative Council (SRC) – Boitumelo Motlogelwa, whose twin sister, Boipelo is the Vice President – appreciated the visitors for their visit, love and support and beseeched God to increase the trio’s hand of giving.
The ceremony was made all the merrier by songs from the grateful beneficiaries.