Matheo driven by passion to venture
Source : Kutlwano
Author : Idah Basimane
Location : Gaborone
Event : Interview
The mandate of charity organizations is to provide public benefit. They are non-profit entities governed by laws outlining their specific missions, relying on donations and volunteers to support beneficiaries in most cases.
They help people make the most of their giving. They are philanthropy entities spreading the message of social well-being.
Such organizations all focus on the community by relieving poverty, advancing education, health, or protecting the environment with goals of improving people’s lives.
This description matches perfectly with one such charity organisation on the pipeline named Pelonomi, proposed to be located in Thamaga.
It has the vision to save lives because basic needs are close to any human being as their unavailability may lead to unusual diseases.
Such proposed organisation founder is Boipelo Matheo. A teacher by profession, she is a unifier, a giver of happiness, community builder and a child loving person who strives to make children happy.
The values she possesses, no doubt have led to her ultimate success in working towards building her charity organization.
Matheo started her teaching career at Lady Mitchison Primary School in 1981 and the passion for the job equipped her to start with some learners who were in her class by identifying their needs.
Thereafter, the hunger and thirst for charity work triggered her to embark on duties such as buying school uniforms, shoes, preparing food to feed the learners who were hungry and vulnerable, buying basic necessities such as blankets and school stationary for the kids.
Today, she does school visits for the children whose parents are unable to visit and also provides accommodation to students at her place until they go to senior secondary schools.
The Good Samaritan also assists females and males, children and parents with special needs.
Matheo approaches donors such as Choppies, SPAR, Woolworths, Senn Foods, Methodist and Last Harvest Christian Revival church, SDA Kolobeng Conference, Faith Assembly International Church, Eloyi Christian Church, Holy Gospel Apostolic Church, Head Mountain of God in Zion, Old Apostolic Church as well as Pastor G. Chabaesele in his personal capacity to help her care for the needy.
She advises others who may have the same desire as hers to stand strong and love the job of giving a helping hand, so that the youth are not swayed away by adversities.
“Team spirit builds unity, which gives strength to the organization. We have worked hard, especially in finding donors to help us overcome financial hurdles,” she explains.
The finances they try to raise are not normally sufficient. Some companies, which help her to raise funds, she mentions are Willy Kathurima and Associates, Eve’s Club, Dr Mbwana, AAP (Mrs Rampa), Angora Club, Boitumelo Foundation, Thusang Bana Group, Absa Employees, Employees of the District Commissioner’s office in Mogoditshane, Christian Revival Church, Last Harvest Church, Methodist Church and Faith Assembly International Church.
“I strongly believe that those doing the same job as me have learned values such as humility and perseverance when facing challenges. The job requires that I work extremely hard with diligence and not giving up, “she notes.
She says Vision 2036 first pillar of Social Development is of the utmost importance since it emphasizes transforming economies for jobs and inclusive growth.
“I am heading towards aligning the foundation with first pillar of Vision 2036 by going out at my own expenses providing for the needy,” she explains.
The core values of the vision of private led and diversification of the economy, she observes, are the mandate of her foundation. ENDS
