03 Oct 2024

Ker & Downey Safari company, a subsidiary of Chobe Holdings, has injected over P700 000 towards the construction of a multi-purpose hall at Bana Ba Letsatsi (BBL), a rehabilitation centre which offers a safe haven for orphans and vulnerable children.

Named ‘Sunshine Hall’, the facility, which is currently 90 percent complete as the roofing is almost complete, will be used for dining and various other purposes.

BBL executive director, Ms Taboka Rotsi, confirmed the financial support in an interview, appreciating the company for providing vital support to ensure learning opportunities for vulnerable children.

 She pointed out that the new building would create an improved, safe environment to support children’s rehabilitation and learning.

“The Sunshine Hall is a generous donation as it will change lives and bring happiness to our wonderful kids.

“We will dine with them in the facility, play table games as well as host beauty pageants,” she added.

The facility is to be handed over in December.

 Ms Rotsi disclosed that the partnerships with Ker & Downey dates back to 2009 and since then, the company has consistently been a pillar to the centre’s daily operations.

She appreciated the long standing and invaluable support her organisation receives from the safari company.

She said the company has ensured that all its lodges and campsites, it included a leaflet about BBL in the information package for guests, noting that the initiative has also been extended to the newly opened Gray’s Eden Sanctuary Boutique Hotel.

“This initiative has helped a great deal because the donation we receive keeps on increasing and 50 percent of our operation budget is from Ker & Downey,” she emphasised.

 Through the initiative, she said last year the organisation received P900 000 of which P350 000 was channelled towards the hall project; in 2022, they received over P600 000 and P250 000 went to the project while in 2022, they got more than P200 000.

Ms Rotsi thanked the company for making a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable children especially in the area of education indicating that every year, the company treats BBL children to a safari experience in some of their luxurious lodges and safari campsites.

The treat, she said, blends education with leisure noting that children were introduced to environmental issues and conservation.

Ms Rotsi also appreciated that Chobe Holdings had pledged to drill and equip a borehole for the centre. 

The centre admits orphaned and vulnerable children to give them a second chance in life. Ends