Africa-Press – Botswana. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has donated food hampers and toiletries to 120 Maitshoko Primary School pupils at an estimated cost of P75 000.
Speaking during the handover ceremony recently, KFC representative, Mr Buti Mogapi explained that they were committed to uplifting the livelihoods of the less privileged in different communities across the country.
He said the food donations would help to combat hunger among school children.
Through their corporate social responsibility programme, he said they had sponsored 11 families and adopted one family in Sefhare, one in Mahalapye, the SOS children’s village in Gaborone, Bana ba Keletso in Molepolole and House of Hope in Palapye.
He commended customers for the P2 donations in their fast food outlets.
“Through such noble donations we are able to change many lives,” he said.
Maitshoko school head, Mr Monthusi Kelebale said Maake had no school infrastructure, but that through their commitment to education, they built mud huts to be used as classrooms, hence the school name Maitshoko.
He said the now eight stream school had 120 pupils, eight teaching staff, two cooks, three guards and a cleaner.
He, however, decried the unsatisfactory school results in the past years, noting that in 2018 the school attained a 73 per cent pass rate, but that their performance dropped in the following three years to 31 per cent in 2022.
He said lack of adequate resources contributed to poor performance, but that they had devised strategies to turn their performance around and attain a pass rate of at least 76 per cent.
In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Luke Moilwa said the village, on the outskirts of Hukuntsi has mostly poor households.
He added that the food hampers would go a long in giving his community hope.
For her part, MP Talita Monnakgotla applauded KFC for their benevolence, saying the donation would inspire many households and pupils.
On other issues, she implored parents to work cordially with teachers for the betterment of academic performance.
She also praised teachers for their perseverance though working with limited resources.
She also urged companies to adopt schools to lift the burden that teachers were struggling with. Hukuntsi chief education officer, Ms Kankane Sephiri said the World Food Organisation had released a report showing that nutrition was critical to every child’s development.
She said the food provided would give pupils energy and that there would be a change in their academic performance.
Meanwhile, she decried the lack of photocopying machines across schools in the area, noting that the ministry had procured one printer for the region.
She pleaded with other stakeholders to adopt their school and assist with printing accessories.
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