Africa-Press – Botswana. First Lady Neo Masisi says in collaboration with Merck Foundation she has plans to uplift women from poverty.
Speaking during a visit to Old Naledi recently where the foundation donated sewing machines to the community, Ms Masisi said in partnership with Kgosi Motlhatswi Pule, they had noted that gender based violence (GBV) on women was on the rise and needed mitigation strategies.
Since women groups were not registered, beneficiaries were identified through the help of the Village Development Committee.
Ms Masisi said to alleviate poverty and fight BV, they collaborated with the foundation which assisted with sewing machines.
She said they prioritised women in low-income areas and communities below the poverty datum line because the goal was to leave no one behind.
Further, the First Lady noted that the foundation had a foot print in other parts of the country and that they planned to spread their net further.
Ms Masisi said poverty and stigma made women vulnerable and that female headed households had partners who controlled or abused them, adding that it was hidden and that many went unreported. “If it’s not them, we know it’s their daughters,” she said.
She said by sewing and selling their products, women would empower their daughters indirectly and that there would be less child sexual abuse, adding that due to poverty some mothers had sold their children.
Ms Masisi told Old Naledi women that she had identified a seasoned fashion designer who would transfer skills to them.
For her part, Old Naledi Umbrella VDC chairperson, Ms Monene Kgosietsile acknowledged that they received four sewing machines, and that they used them to make school uniforms, track suits and other items to generate income.
Merck Foundation representatives said they were impressed with the zeal and enthusiasm that they had seen and that the project would develop and improve the women’s livelihoods.
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