Africa-Press – Botswana. First Lady, Ms Neo Masisi has donated four industrial sewing machines to three Village Development Committees (VDCs), as part of her women economic empowerment and fight against HIV and Gender Based Violence (GBV) initiatives.
Handing over the donation Wednesday, at Old Naledi kgotla, she said the donation was made possible by Merck Foundation.
She encouraged Old Naledi community to make use of the machines to improve their livelihoods and to thrive to become a centre of excellence other communities could bench mark from.
She said she came up with women economic empowerment and the fight against GBV initiatives so to empower and inspire both women and the girl child by giving them an opportunity to be more self-reliant.
These initiatives, she said, were also made to contribute towards government’s commitment to improving the lives of citizens, ‘because Vision 2036 aspirations can only be realised through joint commitment by all Batswana’.
Our collective effort, with the Merck Foundation, has contributed toward women empowerment and fighting GBV, which has become rampant because some women depend on men.
This is why I found it fit to donate these industrial sewing machines and it is my wish to see women thrive and I hope these machines will inspire you to achieve your very best,” she added.
Therefore, she encouraged the community, more especially women to embrace the opportunity and aim higher, and take their tailoring seriously, stressing that they should see themselves as fashion designers, not tailors.
Ms Masisi also encouraged women to ensure they passed their sewing skills to both their sons and daughters.
“It is my strongest belief that if people are provided the enabling platforms, they will reach their optimum,” said Ms Masisi.
Furthermore, First Lady encouraged Old Naledi VDC to explore other avenues to fund raise by documenting the history of Old Naledi, as a tourism attraction. Additionally, she said the VDC could also organise an Old Naledi talent week, to showcase talents of Old Naledi youth, adding that this would help unearth more talent that the youth could use.
Area MP and also Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mr Dumezweni Mthimkhulu expressed gratitude to First Lady for the donation, saying it would go a long way in improving the lives of Old Naledi residents.
Old Naledi court president, Kgosi Motlhatswi Pule thanked First Lady for her gesture he said would empower women to be financially independent and refrain from relying solely on their male partners for a living, which makes them vulnerable and prone to GBV.
For vote of thanks, former councillor, Ms Ntebaleng Modise commended First Lady for the good work she continued to do across the entire country, through her initiatives.
She also thanked Ms Masisi for the donation, saying it would benefit both the young and old in the community.
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