FREE SCHOOL SHOES FOR SEASOLE PUPILS

Close to 700 Seasole Primary School students walked away with new pairs of school shoes thanks to SelwanaSkylar Foundation.

Working in partnership with The World Group, Walk of Hope and Divinity Spa who collectively donated 1380 shoes, the organisation brought smiles to students of the Boteti East school. Founder of Walk of Hope Botswana, Theriso MotsumiMotsemeng said their organisation focuses on the advancement of women and the girlchild for easy access to shelter, technology and skills development. “We are about giving children hope and help them realise their dreams as well as knowing their roles from grassroots to help discourage self-hate and bottling up of issues, hence our motto, ‘A better child, a better

Botswana.’” Motsemeng expressed gratitude for the World Group of Companies, which had stepped to the plate and 1000 pairs of school shoes after her organisation approached it last December through the shoe drive campaign. “January this year they sent me to take the shoe sizes for all the children and we found that there were 380 extra children, we then reported back by writing asking whether it was possible to buy extra 380 pairs. They agreed and today here we are,” she said. The two have previously worked together donating to schools in Molepolole, Kaudwane, Tonota and Maun among others. Walk of Hope (WOH) Botswana last year celebrated 10 years of empowering families and communities in issues relating to child abuse and Gender Based Violence (GBV), among others. The organisation believes that if a child is well developed from a young age, going forward he or she should be a positive agent of change in society, hence their slogan, ‘a better child, a better Botswana.’ Their objectives are to empower families and communities to be assertive on the issues of child abuse, to give emotional and psychosocial support to the abused and their families, as well as to hold campaigns to speak out against abuse and educate children in schools with relevant stakeholders. Member of Parliament for Boteti East, also assistant Minister of Health, Setlhomo Lelatisitswe was present at the Seasole primary school shoe donation. The organisation has also donated school shoes to areas including, Tsokatshaa, Satau, Kachikau, Kopong, Sojwe, Lentsweletau, Ranoi, Ghanzi, Tutume, Gaborone, Mogoditshane, among others.