Having been in the business of providing convenience and access to funds to the vulnerable population of this country, it is only natural to gravitate towards hearing a call of essential needs from the very same audience. Gamodubu Child Trust Care coordinated By Mme Shirley Madikwe, houses orphaned and vulnerable children from as young as days old and above. She is passionate and has a never-ending drive to improve the lives of children and youth with health and care issues around Gamodubu Village.
The center offers hope and support for the most vulnerable and addresses the challenges of widespread poverty and disease through practical programmes and youth are fed, taking medication and have access to regular check-ups. SSB decided to offer support with the basic needs such as gas, electricity, kitchen cleaning stock as well as COVID-19 compliance kits like masks and sanitisers. After a few weeks of getting acquainted with the coordinator, it was established that the children did not have enough masks between home and school to always ensure they comply. There was also a shortage of kitchen utensils that made it difficult to maintain compliance from bodies governing such a non-profit organisation.
SmartSwitch Botswana recognises that part of maintaining a profitable business environment, requires enhancing the well being of the community. We do this through practising our corporate social responsibility. SmartSwitch Botswana has provided a payment solution since 2008 to food basket system of Botswana. We replaced the normal manual methods with a highly technical solution that required extensive implementation and a change of mindset.
The goal was to provide a solution that provided CHOICE for government social grants beneficiaries as well as restoring DIGNITY for beneficiaries who were stigmatised due to the fact that they had to queue with wheelbarrows to load groceries every month. Beneficiaries gained the choice to spend their food allowance whenever they want and wherever they want and since then SSB has taken the challenge of giving government social grants beneficiaries access to financial services.
SmartSwitch shares a similar mandate of caring for the orphaned, disabled and vulnerable population with Gamodubu Child Care Trust and was more than pleased to work with them over the month and answer their plea for the necessities. Madikwe mentioned that cooking gas and electricity is a serious need because they have to prepare meals and water for all the school children and ensure there is enough light for their homework to be done. It was evident from the time spent at the center that Ms. Shirley Madikwe and her team of volunteers are doing a remarkable job and have a genuine passion for the children and the job they do.