South Korean Embassy last week donated Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment and educational materials which include an embroidery machine, photocopy machine, tablets and interactive smart boards to Tlamelong Rehabilitation Centre.
When receiving the donation on behalf of Botswana Red Cross Society, Secretary General Kutlwano Mukokomani expressed gratitude to the South Korean Embassy for the donation and that they looked forward to an enduring partnership for such worthy causes.
“Your great gesture will enable our trainees to thrive, to fulfill their ambitions, make their dreams to become a reality as this equipment will go a long way in creating great impact in the lives of the trainees and their families,” he said.
Mukokomani noted that the machines will enable learners to have more material available to them to facilitate learning as they will be exposed to better technologies which will ultimately improve the quality of material they produce.
Furthermore, he mentioned that the smart board gadgets will provide the students with an elevated learning process to be fostered by E-Learning.
“The gadgets provide a more visual element to the learning process, which in turn improves learner mental retention,” he said.
Giving a background on their relationship with the embassy, Mukokomani said BRCS- through International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), have managed to create great working synergy with the South Korean Embassy in South Africa, based in Pretoria to augment the National Society’s Rehabilitation Centre’s learning challenges hence the donation.
Ambassador of South Korea who is based in South Africa, Chull-Joo Park, highlighted in his address that Botswana and Lesotho complete the three countries covered by his embassy.
“I hope the trainees will be able to utilize the ICT equipment provided by the Embassy and BRCS to make a good change,” he said further sharing an old adage in motivation for the trainees: “Your present circumstances do not determine where you can go, they merely determine where you start”.
Tlamelong Rehabilitation Centre serves the marginalized and underserved less privileged persons living with disability in Botswana.
The Centre offers boarding services, vocational training, social services, and physiotherapy and rehabilitation services for young people living with disabilities aged 18 to 35 from across the country over a period of 2 years per cohort which has a maximum intake capacity of 35.
Trainees are also skilled on practical textile and Horticulture skills and upon exit the trainees are examined and certified (Trade C Practical Certificate) by Madirelo Testing and Training Centre and issued with a startup package to facilitate translation of the vocational skills onto active income generation activities.
