Twelve kind-hearted Orapa mine employees have donated food hampers, school shoes, school uniforms and blankets to two families in need in Botswana’s Boteti region.
Twelve kind-hearted Orapa mine employees have donated food hampers, school shoes, school uniforms and blankets to two families in need in Botswana’s Boteti region.
The employees in the Orapa Completely Automated Recovery Plant C shift raised a total of P5,000 (US$450) over nine months by saving money monthly, which the company then doubled to P10,000 (US$900). Then they asked the Boteti Sub-district Social Welfare Office to identify those in need of support.
Two families of 15 disadvantaged people in Mmadikola village were highlighted, in need of food, clothing and blankets. One of the beneficiaries, Gotholwamang Dikhutso, thanked the employees for extending a helping hand to her and her five children.
Kgosietsile Makula, Senior Risk Officer and a representative of the C shift team, said the initiative began as teambuilding outings in the Boteti region, and then the team decided to make a difference in the communities where the outings were held.
Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines Plant Manager Nelson Nareetsile said: "Every year, through the Corporate Social Investment programme, Debswana invests over P3 million (US$268,000) into sustainable community projects in and around Boteti. It is my belief that our investment, coupled with the investment from our employees and our partners, will go a long way in the improvement of lives."
The company, he added, was pleased its employees were participating in developing community projects. “It is part of the diamond industry’s commitment to leave a legacy to be proud of,” he said, “and it goes a long way to living the Debswana value of ‘show we care’.”
C shift’s Keoagile Moagele said the team members would continue to visit the families and communities where they had made donations to maintain the relationship, for example with the two families in Mmadikola.
Boteti Social Welfare Officer Victor Thake praised the Debswana workers for their kindness and social responsibility, saying that the total number of needy, destitute people or orphans in the region was close to 5,000 and the council budget was unable to cater for them all. So the continued efforts of the mine employees would were an important part of supporting underprivileged people in the area.