The spirit of giving has entered the heart of the First Lady of Botswana Neo Masisi who this afternoon donated proceeds from the First Lady’s Walk against Gender Based Violence held on the 7th December this year.
The recipients being; Botswana Association of the Deaf, Women’s Shelter and Women Against Rape (Maun), Women’s Shelter/ Botswana Gender Based Violence Prevention and Support Center, I am Special, Baylor Clinic, Botswana Council for the Disabled, Botswana Junior Chambers International as well as the Botswana Association for the Blind and Partially Sighted.
De Beers Group, Hollard Insurance and other sponsors from the private sector supported the initiative by donating resources and funds towards the walk. De Beers Group also donated P245 000.00 to be shared among seven beneficiaries while Hollard Insurance pledged support towards the eighth recipient.
Speaking at the announcement and handing over of funds to the beneficiaries, The First Lady said the downpour of rain during the day of the walk could not deter her and the participants as they understood the importance of standing up against Gender Based Violence (GBV).
“Come rain or shine, we will still say no to Gender Based Violence because we are all affected by it one way or the other. We all know someone affected by GBV,” said the First Lady of the Republic.
She continued that the recipients were chosen for their role in combating GBV and were also chosen for the priority areas which they operate within.
One of the beneficiaries, Women Against Rape in Maun Board Member Lesego Nchunga said the funds will go a long way in helping the organisation provide a safe haven for victims of GBV.
She stated that the organisation was formulated in 1993 in response to the gap in civil society contribution to the eradication of GBV. “We offer counselling, psychosocial support, capacity building, public education, awareness raising as well as research based advocacy,” she explained, continuing that majority of the proceeds from the First Lady’s Walk will go towards psychosocial support, which entails economic empowerment and entrepreneurial support for the survivors.