Sun Inspiration
BY OBAKENG MATLOU The daily struggles some babies have to bear just to earn education is utterly distressing. Earlier around 14:40, on my way to Kopong, I picked up two pupils, a brother (10) and sister (13), the latter doing Standard 7, hitchhiking by the Metsimotlhabe bridge already walking towards their village. So I stopped out of curiosity and worry, most importantly, wanting to chat to them to find out where they were going, their safety, etc as they’re very young and vulnerable. They told me they were headed to Galekgatshwane along the Kopong road (just before Mmatseta turn off) and so I picked them, we drove for about 5.2km, that’s a one way distance which they have to do daily to get to Metsimotlhabe Primary School; in other words they do no less 10.4km daily just to access education because they have no choice. When I probed them further they told me they wake up daily at 05:00 fix something to eat if available, then start off their journey at 06:30 as they must be at school before 07:50. She lamented that at times they arrive late as they’re forced to rest as they’d be tired, other times they can be on time. My heart bled for these kids badly, I dropped them off and proceeded to Kopong, I promised them I’d stop by on my way back to Gaborone. Before we left, I narrated the encounter with them to my Mrs whom I’d gone to pick up. We agreed we’d passby their house and we did. We engaged the grandmother who was home, but their mother wasn’t. She called up uncles to broach the good tidings to them, they felt humbled by the gesture. Pithily, their grandmother explained to us her wish to have them picked to and from their home, but decried their financial inadequacies. She said the kids’ experiences to get to school is especially heartbreaking when it rains. She also informed us the pick up combi charges P200/head, we offered to pay for them both the P400/month until the end of the year as we explained to the granny our utmost wish to support in our small way, and in particular to one doing standard 7 as we would like to see her do well in her PSLE. We resolved that those two children won’t ever walk to school again. We don’t have much, but that’s our little Godly contribution towards assisting these two kids, we’ll also ensure they have brand new uniforms from head to toe, stationery and my Mrs will also take care of sanitary towels. The grandmother gave our benevolent offer the green light, but said she’d like to inform their mother first to hear her take and would revert, she did and they accepted. Let us all pay it forward, God blesses you so you’re in turn a blessing to His less fortunate children, even complete strangers. We share these real life stories so you may also be sprung into action and make a difference so you become a blessing to those less fortunate, make it in your small corner