Africa-Press – Botswana. Debswana aims to have 4.5 per cent of its total employment population being people with disabilities by 2030.
Currently, the company has employed 132 people of different disabilities.
This was said by Head of Cultural Transformation Diversity and Inclusion at Debswana, Ms Kefilwe Mokone at the Botswana Council for the Disabled (BCD) reception held to interact with and appreciate donors recently.
Ms Mokone said providing for people with disabilities was among the primary issues on the company’s agenda.
She said while striving to achieve its vision, Debswana had a pledge to reach out to the needy members of the society as it was the case with people with disabilities.
Ms Mokone added that Debswana through an entrepreneurial support programme was considerate of companies owned by people with disabilities, thus offered them opportunities to do business with the mining company.
Ms Mokone urged other companies and organisations that were represented at the reception to join hands and continue supporting BCD.
Despite their disability, Ms Mokone said people with disabilities were able and they possessed various expertise.
BCD board chairperson, Mr Kgosi Tlhowe applauded the various sponsors for assisting the organisation to deliver its mandate.
Mr Tlhowe said BCD was non-profit making organisation mandated to deliver services to and for people with disabilities.
He said BCD thrived through an annual grant from government.
Mr Tlhowe said the council was working hard to maintain good relationship with sponsors and was focused on coming up with mechanisms to prolong such philanthropic support.
Despite the support received from various companies and individuals, Mr Tlhowe noted that the organisation faced challenges.
Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) Manager for Communications and Public Relations, Ms Letlhogonolo Paulo said an inclusive education system must cater for the needs of all, including those with special educational needs. She said BQA was tasked with providing for equitable and inclusive education, therefore will ensure that every learner had equal access to learning.
“Every learner must feel valued and supported by their teacher and peers despite their gender or disability,” she said.
As the national education regulator, Ms Paulo said BQA encouraged engagement of all stakeholders in the education system. Therefore, she said people with disabilities should not only have access to education, but to employment opportunities as well.
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