Chobe Holdings embraces adopt-a-school programme

MAUN: Chobe Holdings Limited (CHL) has embraced the Ministry of Education and Skills Development’s Adopt-A-School programme by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with four schools within the region. CHL recently inked an MoU with four local schools, namely, Sedie, Tsodilo Junior Secondary Schools (JSS), Letsholathebe, and Mathiba Primary Schools, as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) and planting back some of their profit to the community they serve.

The government’s Adopt-a-School programme, administered by the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, was created with the aim of fostering quality and partnership in the education of students.

In his address, CHL Group managing director, Lempheditse Odumetse, stated that their company is a listed entity that was established in Botswana and noted that the majority of their dividends are reinvested in the nation. According to Odumetse, being a listed firm, permits those who are unable to obtain a concession to manage a lodge to purchase shares through the Botswana Stock Exchange, allowing them to make a profit without managing.

“We have direct obligations to this nation, and the money we get from tourists is deposited into the First National Bank here, where it arrives first. It doesn’t travel to another country before it bounces back to Botswana,” he said. He stated that CHL firmly believes in investing in the future of society and giving back to the communities they serve.

Odumetse asserts that education is the cornerstone of any society, which is why it is crucial to acknowledge the supply of high-quality education to young minds. He said enabling young people to become leaders and agents of change via education is the key to opening up a better future for them.

Odumetse continued: “They have adopted the four schools in the community that they serve out of this belief as part of their corporate social responsibility”.

“We hope to make a significant and long-lasting difference in the lives of kids, staff, and the entire schools community through our cooperation. We are aware that education is more than just classroom instruction and textbooks. It’s about developing young people’s potential, encouraging creativity, and offering them growth possibilities.”

He added that their commitment to the schools goes beyond just providing financial support, adding that they will actively engage with the educational facilities by working with administrators, teachers, and local communities to identify areas in which they can have an impact. Development of the infrastructure, availability of resources, instructors, training courses, and extracurricular activities are a few examples of this. He was grateful for the devotion and hard work of educators and parents who give their all to provide their children the greatest education possible.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CHL, John Gibson, had earlier stated that collaboration across pertinent education stakeholders might have a significant impact on individuals’ lives as well as the country’s overall quality of life. According to Gibson, they have continued to maintain strong ties with the community at large over the years. He stated that they hope to change circumstances by offering vital resources to the community they serve.

CHL group human resource manager, Kelly Ledimo who provided comprehensive details on the adopt-aschool programme, told this publication that one of the entities, Desert and Delta Safari, adopted Tsodilo JSS 10 years ago. She stated that the company has provided stationery, and taken 10 underprivileged students and the top 10 achievers to the Leroo la Tau Lodge for approximately three nights.

Additionally, they gave 20 underprivileged students complete school uniforms through the Guidance and Counselling department. For the students’ career day events, the company has also contributed resources, Ledimo added.

According to her, they adopted Mathiba Primary School in 2018 with its main objective of enhancing learning outcomes through the donation of educational resources that complement the current curriculum. She explained that they purchased some mobile classrooms for the school and donated a photocopier.

“We paid over half a million pula for the donated goods to the schools in the first year,” CHL Group HR stated.

Additionally, the school was given a 70% target for the 2019 Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), which they surpassed with a score of 74.5%.