BIHL Trust donates Gamodubu Multipurpose Hall

GABORONE – In what has proven to be largest project taken on by the BIHL Trust, the Gamodubu Child Care Trust on Thursday 12th December 2013 officially accepted the newly completed multipurpose hall courtesy of BIHL. The handover was officiated by Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Botlogile Tshireletso.

The P 2, 106, 000.00 development saw construction begin January 2013. Guests in attendance included Kgosi Leboko Keletso; the Village Development Committee; BIHL Group CEO, Mr Gaffar Hassam; BIHL Trust Chairperson, Dr. N.H. Fidzani; Director of Gamodubu Child Care Trust Shirley Madikwe; members of the BIHL and Gamodubu Child Care Trusts; and residents of Gamodubu village.

Commented Assistant Minister of Local Government, Hon. Tshireletso, “The input that the private sector has on giving back to the community cannot be overstated. Such efforts are a testament to the fact that we now increasingly recognise the President’s call on poverty alleviation and are playing an active role in ensuring that communities such as Gamodubu are supported.”

Gamodubu Child Care Trust is a centre for orphaned and vulnerable children, most of whom are living with HIV and AIDS. The Gamodubu project addresses social issues ranging from HIV, delinquent kids, young mothers, youth development, and community outreach. The Centre offers an out of school program that includes, but is not limited to, feeding and ensuring the children take their medication, also ensuring the children have access to regular check-ups. The multipurpose hall will be used to generate income for the Centre, which feeds 209 children from the village and surrounding areas.

“The BIHL Trust supports Gamodubu Child Care Trust in their quest to curb social ills amongst the youth at the Gamodubu community and surrounding areas. One particular aspect about the BIHL Trust that is close to my heart is that this assistance is meant to encourage independence. In so doing we would have left a useful skill which, in turn, can help more than just one person in the community. As such, the multipurpose hall is expected to add on to the existing income generating activities of the Gamodubu Child Care Trust which include poultry and vegetable gardening, equipping them with the tools and the resources to be a sustainable, self-sufficient organisation well into the future,” commented Dr. F.H. Fidzani, Chairperson of the BIHL Trust.

The BIHL Group continues to make a tangible difference to the lives of hundreds of individuals around the country through projects initiated in recent years.  The BIHL Trust was established in 2007 to unite the CSI efforts of the Group under one umbrella, championing and support of development initiatives across Botswana for Batswana. Interests in the past have included focus on areas including social welfare services, including youth development; public health; public recreation including sports; poverty alleviation; economic empowerment projects; development of human resources through education and training; rural development and conservation of the environment.

“We are grateful to BIHL Trusts for such an incredible contribution and for believing in the work of the Gamodubu Child Care Trust in this way. We call upon all those in the private sector to show similar support for community development to assist us in doing the work that we do,” concluded Shirley Madikwe, Director of Gamodubu Child Care Trust.