MEC Miga hailed Reatlegile Children and Youth Centre for its humanitarian gesture
North West Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs MEC, Lenah Miga lauded a Mafikeng philanthropist for dedicating her life to taking care of homeless and neglected children and those in child headed households by providing and caring for them. MEC Miga praised Ms Boitumelo Selepe (59) of Reatlegile Children and Youth Centre in Dibate village in Mafikeng during her departmental visit to the centre on Monday to commemorate Mandela day.
The MEC accompanied by Human Settlements officials commemorated their 67 minutes at the Reatlegile Children and Youth centre, cleaning and handing over food and other amenities donated by officials. The centre which was established in 2007 due to Selepe’s love for the children is operating through donations from local Ebenezer church lead by Paster Wily Bohmer.
MEC Miga called on all government departments to give a helping hand to the centre to ensure that it stay afloat, as a gesture to Mme Selepe’s humanitarian deeds who might also be raising future leaders. She has committed to engage with the department of Social Development in the province to fast track the process of registering the centre as a Non-Profit Organisation. “We must give honour to Mme Selepe and her family as she is taking Tata Mandela’s legacy forward. There are few kind hearted people like her in this world. As government we must really support her initiative and encourage the spirit of volunteerism like she is doing.
We must also praise those who are assisting her as they are also doing this, because of their love for the children and the country. What this centre is doing is something that should be recognised and ensure that every department that can assist to do so. We also call on community and business to come on board in ensuring that Tata Mandela’s legacy and that of Mme Selepe is carried forward. It take a village to raise a child,” said MEC Miga.
Since its establishment fifteen years ago, Ms Selepe only applied for her centre which operates from her family home, to be registered as a Non-Profit Organisation last month, after being advised by the local department of Social Development. She said that it has been tough for her and her four children as they have been sharing the little that they have with homeless children.
According to Selepe most children are orphans. She said that she took care of their parents who were mostly sick and have already passed away. The centre is currently taking care of over 30 children who are all of school going age. She survives through donations from faith based organisations and is grateful to the kind hearted people who are helping her centre to make sure that the children do not go to bed hungry. The youngest among the children in the centre is two months old.
“The centre needs security, proper beds, improved infrastructure, guaranteed supply of food and many other resources that could make sure that the centre is fully operational on daily basis. I’m hopeful after the visit by the MEC and other local leaders that we will be able to make sure that these children are well taken care of, and I believe that we will have a leader among them. All that we are doing is to give them hope and ensure that they are raised like any other normal child in a home,” said Mme Selepe.
She said that most children at the centre are from local communities, and are enjoying to stay at the centre as they have shelter, food and they are been provided with school uniform and security.
The theme for Nelson Mandela International Day 2022 is “do what you can with what you have and where you are,” according to the United Nations.
Enquiries:
MEC’s Spokesperson Mr Tsholofelo Mathibedi
0829330075/388 2884
mathibeditsholofelo@gmail.com
