06 Jul 2023

Thuto-Boswa Rehabilitation Centre (TBRC) for learners with disabilities launched its inaugural charity half-marathon slated for September 16.

Giving a keynote address at the launch on Wednesday, Member of Parliament for Ramotswa, also Minister of Minerals and Energy, Lefoko Moagi said the empowerment of People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) was of great interest and concern to all.

Moagi said in 2021, Botswana ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, through which government committed to promote, protect and ensure that they fully enjoyed human rights and were respected for their inherent dignity.

Similarly, he said in the same year, Parliament approved the Draft of the Reviewed National Disability Policy, marking a significant stride of legislation in the disability sector.

“The country and the disability sector have great ambitions for the support of PLWDs throughout the life course.

The reality though, is that resources are never enough to reach these dreams in short spaces of time. Under these circumstances, it is required that Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) should also seek ways of generating resources for development through partnerships with the private sector and other stakeholders for both funding and strategic partnerships,” Moagi said.

Thus, he said the Thuto-Boswa Charity Half-Marathon was symbolic of such partnerships and a result of strategic collaborations.

For her part, the centre’s executive director, Gosego Mmeanyana said they thought of a charity marathon to address the challenges they were faced with.Mmeanyana said the current economic environment was not in its best of state, owing to the high inflation, increase in living standards and the post effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This calls for more efforts on the part of NGOs like Thuto-Boswa who depend on donors to come up with strategies and activities to assist in augmenting current financial support, to ensure the continuity of quality service to learners and to continue developing as the world progresses,” she said.

The inaugural charity half-marathon aimed to raise funds for the centre’s development, increase its visibility as well as attract supporters for fundraising and strategic partners and at the same time bring together professional and social runners for a noble cause.

TBRC is a Ramotswa-based NGO founded in 1981 by Camphill Trust.

The centre provides vocational training and rehabilitation services and also promotes the wellbeing of young people living with disabilities. ENDS