Businessman and philanthropist Zunaid Moti has distributed 6,000 soccer balls to children and communities across Botswana as part of a community initiative recently held alongside the FuturExotics Gaborone Motor Show and the launch of African Hero.
According to a media release issued this week, more than 4,000 of the soccer balls were delivered directly to five schools across Gaborone, while others were distributed through community organisations and media partners.
The initiative was aimed at putting sporting equipment directly into the hands of children and communities for recreational and organised sporting activities.
As per the media release,the first major handover took place at Ledumang Secondary School, which received more than 1,500 soccer balls.
The release said the donation was intended to support sporting activities while also providing learners and members of the surrounding community with an opportunity to play, interact and enjoy recreational activities.
Further deliveries were made to Boikhutso Primary School, Masa Primary School and Diphetogo Primary School.
Furthermore, football teams at Tloga Tloga Community Junior Secondary School also benefited, with equipment donated to both the boys’ and girls’ teams for training, matches and recreational activities.
Apart from the school handovers, about 1,000 soccer balls were channelled into communities through a wider distribution network, said the release.
Demonstrating commitment to community engagement, media organisations were also entrusted with soccer balls for distribution to schools, charities and communities across Botswana.
The release said the approach was intended to allow local organisations with knowledge of their communities to identify areas where the donations could have the greatest impact.
Above this, a further 200 soccer balls were donated to children from SOS Children’s Villages.
Additional balls were retained for learners at the newly opened Duma Boko School in Block 7, Gaborone, which was officially unveiled during the launch of African Hero on September 5.
The Moti Group said the initiative was driven by the desire to give children an opportunity to play and connect with others.
It added that the equipment could encourage children to spend time outdoors, play with friends and participate in sporting activities.
The distribution formed part of a week of community-focused activities surrounding the FuturExotics Gaborone Motor Show and the official launch of African Hero.
