The School of Tactical Intelligence, supported by the Intelligence Formation and Thales, reached out to Thakaneng children’s home when they donated gifts and party packs to the shelter last Friday afternoon.
The shelter describes itself as ‘a temporary home for victims of poverty, neglect, and drug abuse, violence, sexual abuse and many other circumstances that have made them leave their homes’.
The Intelligence Formation Chaplain, Elijah Loate delivered a speech on deriving joy from giving. He also advised the 80 or so boys to focus on education. ‘Nyaope and drugs will destroy you… we are expecting something good from you…the future will be bright when you tell yourself you want to be somebody. Tell yourself that you will become a teacher, a scientist…you will become that by the grace of the Lord,’ he said.
The officer commanding of the School of Tactical Intelligence, Lt-Col Fikile Konjwayo said: ‘We love you. The general officer commanding, Brig.-Gen René Mercuur sent us here to demonstrate our love by handing out these gifts. As soldiers, we are there to protect and look after you. We are also concerned about your lives, socially. This is not the end, we will come back again and be together on this journey.
‘Be good children and respect your teachers. We are what we are today because of our teachers. If you respect them, you will stand where we are today,’ he encouraged them.
Lt. Col Saul Keketsi spoke on behalf of Thales and challenged all the members present to adopt children from Thakaneng and buy them school shoes. The members reacted positively and will each contribute money towards the school shoes in January.
Thakaneng’s principal, Mr Meshack Seemelo thanked the uniformed army members. He lamented that people in this country have forgotten about the disadvantaged. Seemelo went on to say that they survive on donations and subsidies from the government. ‘It is not much. We have 80 boys; we have to take them to the doctor, ensure that they go to school and, when they come back, ensure that there is something on the table for them to eat,’ he said.
