Lerato Matheka
MASERU — Telecommunications giant Vodacom Lesotho on Thursday handed over M200 000 to 12 projects as part of the company’s Community Builder Campaign.
The 12 projects were selected from hundreds others under the Community Builder Campaign that is aimed at helping ordinary people make a difference in their communities.
The project is now in its third year.
Projects were selected under the youth, adult, senior and group categories.
Three winners in each category shared a total of M50 000.
The first prize was M25 000, second prize M15 000, and third prize M10 000.
Speaking at the function Communications Minister Mothetjoa Metsing commended Vodacom Lesotho for giving back to the community.
“We are proud of all the initiatives Vodacom are engaged in,” Metsing said.
He singled out Tsabiso Letsoela, Vodacom’s managing executive commercial, for the dedication and love he has shown for Lesotho.
“You have shown love for your country and we are very proud of the initiatives you are doing in giving back to the community,” Metsing said.
The minister congratulated Vodacom for ensuring that Basotho benefit from the company in various ways.
“Unlike other foreign companies, Vodacom has engaged Basotho in high positions to run the company, a strategy that helps reach Basotho on the grassroots,” he said.
“We are very proud to have a company that is dedicated to serving the nation selflessly. We hope you continue with your good work.”
The minister also thanked projects that won for making a difference in their communities.
“You deserve all the honour there is for making a difference in your communities even without the assistance of the government. Continue with your selfless work and you will stay in your communities’ hearts forever.”
Letsoela urged the winning projects to use their prize monies to improve their projects.
He said Vodacom reward the efforts of ordinary people regardless of the number of people involved.
“We are here to lend a helping hand to those who are trying to make a difference.
“We are all about Basotho because they are our profit drivers and we want to sustain the relationship hence giving back to the community,” Letsoala said.
The 12 finalists for the Vodacom Community builder under the youth category were: Linking Lives, Family Art and Literacy and Khotsong Skills Training Centre. They each won M10 000, M15 000 and M25 000, respectively.
Under the adult category, Bophelo Botsema took first prize winning M25 000, Botleng Support Group walked away with M15 000 and Rachel’s Children’s Home came third winning M10 000.
Under the senior category, St John’s Apostolic Project won first prize of M25 000, Home-Based Care won M15 000 while Farming Project who came third won M10 000.
The group category saw Mekaling Nursery taking home the first prize of M25 000, Khoro Temong came second winning M15 000 and Reformed Community Development Plan walked home M10 000 richer.