Lijeng Ranooe
MAFETENG – METROPOLITAN Lesotho on Friday donated 200 bags of cement worth M15 000 to the Morapeli Disabled Centre (MDC) in Mafeteng to facilitate the construction of a new dining hall for students.
The centre, which is home to 29 disabled students, is situated in Motsekuoa in the district of Mafeteng.
It was founded by Father Gilbert in 1970.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Metropolitan Lesotho Marketing Manager, Tšokolo Makeka, commended the MDC staff for their dedication and work in the wellbeing of the children.
“It is not often that we find individuals that dedicate their lives to helping the less fortunate and assisting them to reach their fullest potential,” Mr Makeka said.
“Thank you for encouraging them and seeing to it that they are educated, fed, and have a roof over their heads. The work you are doing is invaluable.
“This why we, as Metropolitan, felt the need to make this donation happen; to assist you to continue the great job you are doing for these children. I would like to encourage other organisations to do the same; no matter how big or small the contribution.”
For her part, the Deputy Chair of the MDC board, Mantai Tsekeli, expressed gratitude for the donation.
“We have no words to thank you for this generous donation. The dining hall we had was old and dilapidated by weather conditions and now our children will have somewhere to eat instead of eating outside. We are extremely grateful and humbled by your help.”
She said the learners would remain at the centre until they completed their high school education.
Mafusi Semethe, a social worker at MDC, told the Sunday Express that the major challenge at the centre was that of providing enough food for the children.
“We have various organisations helping us here and there and care givers are doing their best to help the children with the day to day care and hygiene.
“We also need special education specialists to help them at their various schools and at the centre to help them with homework and other academic activities,” Ms Semethe said, adding, more could be done to educate secondary schools about the needs of children with disabilities.
She said that some of the children were brought to the centre for special care by their parents through the Ministry of Social Development.
“I want the children that are placed at this centre to be as successful and happy as possible. It is my biggest prayer and dream to see them prosper and see this centre grow,” Ms Semethe said.