The Vodacom Lesotho Foundation (VLF) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) handed over M600 000.00 to the Resource Centre for Blind (RCB) at the event held in Maseru on Tuesday.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Chairman of the Vodacom Lesotho Foundation (VLF), Mr. John Matlosa said VLF is committed to not only staying the course in the social contract with the Basotho nation through such critical interventions but also aiming to bring in other partners and diversifying the funding envelope to increase and amplify the impact of their interventions.
He added that the foundation’s continued contributions are aimed at plugging the funding gap in social causes as third-sector funding is increasingly declining globally in line with the global economic downturn, saying private sector organizations are therefore challenged to step in to partner with government, civil society, philanthropists and development partners to offer the much-needed social safety nets.
Also speaking the UNICEF Lesotho Country Deputy Representative, Mr Kimanzi Muthengi said UNICEF Lesotho is supporting the government of Lesotho in advancing the rights of children and adolescents with disabilities through multi-sectoral disability and inclusion programming, adding that this work is done in collaboration with Organisations of Persons with disabilities; the institutions of higher learning, development partners and the private sector.
He, therefore, called upon more players from the private sector to join hands and support the Ministry of Education and Training in realising its mandate of providing Inclusive Education that accommodates all children including children with disabilities.
He stressed that children with disabilities in Lesotho face multiple challenges including issues of access and quality of education, water and sanitation services, nutrition, and child protection among others limiting their functioning and ability to meaningfully participate in household and community life and in schools and learning.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Training, Mrs. Makananelo Setlaba thanked the VLF and UNICEF for their continuing support, saying this noble gesture will help the school in the long run.
She called on for more supporters in this regard, saying if the number of students keeps increasing there is a need for more resources for inclusive education.
Mrs. Setlaba therefore, appealed to VLF and UNICEF to continue helping the school, saying their support helps the ministry to fulfil its mandate of providing quality education for all.
The Chairman of the Board of Resource Centre for the Blind, Adv. Borenahabokhethoe Sekonyela expressed gratitude to the donors for extending a helping hand.
He said everyone on earth is given a talent and ability to make the world a better place, regardless of their status hence it is important to offer quality education for all.
He, therefore, urged parents to bring their visually impaired children to school so they acquire quality education.
The Principal of the Resource Centre for the Blind, Mrs. Mamoliehi Tamako said the school is faced with numerous challenges, saying initially the school was catered for 30 students but now there are more than 70 students.
She remarked that there is a scarcity of teachers as the total number of teachers is only six.
She however noted that there are successes of the school, saying they have students who graduated from the National University of Lesotho and they are now civil servants.
Vodacom Lesotho Foundation has recently made relations with UNICEF Lesotho, the Roger Federer Foundation, and the Global Partnership for Education to contribute to projects in support of child safety, early childhood education, and girl coding, among others.
Staff Reporter: ‘Maphoka Likotsi
