09 Jul 2024

Botswana Police Service (BPS) has presented a P100 000 donation to Masiela Trust fund.

Speaking after a Masiela Trust Fund ‘Bonang Bana’ 10 km walk in Gaborone on Saturday, BPS commissioner, Ms Dinah Marathe said the police prioritised the needs of children.

Ms Marathe said collaborating with children and fostering positive relationships was beneficial for both the police and the community, saying it built trust, ensured safety and promoted understanding.

She therefore lauded Masiela Trust Fund for being among the organisations that had responded positively to government calls to actively participate in the development of the country by assisting vulnerable children.

She said BPS had established youth or child friendly services with the aim to build a positive relationship between the law enforcement agency and young people.

Ms Marathe said although there were only nine child friendly services in the country, ‘our wish is to have them elsewhere in the country.’

She further said places of safety should be established across the country so that children were not be denied familiar environments.

The police commissioner  emphasised that all children were vulnerable and exposed to various difficult circumstances, adding that some children were subjected to sexual abuse, exposed to drugs therefore making their mental health a challenge.

She said the BPS was ready to protect children and conform to the international standards.

“We would like children to be ensured of support, protection and services they need to thrive in their communities,” she said, further stating that the police were dedicated to child protection and welfare hence BPS provided child friendly services such as counselling, legal support and advocacy.

Director for Masiela Trust Fund, Ms Magogodi Dabutha  said the Trust had made the adage that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ a reality, by contributing to  efforts that would create a comfortable environment for children.

Ms Dabutha highlighted the organisation’s pillars of ensuring that no child lacked citizenship or remained stateless.

She highlighted that they made sure that  children did not lack identification in the form of birth certificates, and also contributed to fight against child trafficking .

Furthermore, she said they ensured that every vulnerable child got education adding that education was a more powerful tool for social change and with it, vulnerable children would have access to opportunities.

She also said they focused on child protection with the ‘Bonang Bana’ slogan.

Explaining the slogan, Ms Dabutha said it was a child focused strategy through which Masiela Trust Fund brought children issues to the national platform and campaign for all stakeholders to be aware of the unique needs of children.

She thanked all for the donations, saying they would help to fulfil children’s rights to shelter, education, health and protection as spelt out in the children’s Act.

The 10km trust charity walk was aimed at advocating for children and to mobilise resources for care and support. Ends