The Children’s Trust recently handed over a donation valued at P27,995 to SOS Children’s Villages. The donation consisted of five (5) fridges, 29 pairs of school shoes and socks as well as toiletries. Additionally, the Trust donated P15,000 for SOS to invest in study skills and exam preparedness activities for beneficiary students in completing classes. The Trust also sponsored a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Camp for 37 vulnerable young people in July to the tune of P10,000. The donation and sponsorships are part of the ongoing commitment by The Children’s Trust to empower and support SOS Children’s Villages activities for 2025.
Speaking on behalf of the Trust, Ms Petronella Mathumo, the Deputy Chair of The Children’s Trust highlighted that this partnership with SOS goes back several years. “We identified SOS Children’s Villages as needing support at a time when donor funding was a challenge but as a country, we were also experiencing a rise in cases of vulnerable and marginalised children. We carry out various fund-raising initiatives, the flagship being an annual luncheon that is made successful by the generosity of corporate entities, diplomatic missions and individuals. Part of the funds raised from this year’s luncheon, which was held on May 17th, have gone towards these sponsorships and donations of over P52,000”, Ms Mathumo explained.
“Following the luncheon, The Children’s Trust toured some of the SOS facilities to conduct a needs assessment and identified various areas of improvement, including the need for various items of furniture, school and personal hygiene supplies. In addition, SOS highlighted some key support and empowerment initiatives on their calendar; and ultimately, we agreed on what to prioritise,” she said.
The Children’s Trust was established to address some of the challenges faced by children and young people in Botswana, including poverty, malnutrition, inadequate educational support and limited access to quality healthcare. The Trust aims to address these challenges through targeted, sustainable interventions using partnerships, advocacy and community engagement.
