ORIENTATION: arrival at Mosu kgotla

Y Care Charitable walk a success
The Y Care Charitable Trust has grown in leaps and bounds over the years with participation increasing with every walk, all in the name of charity. The latest walk saw over 70 participants from different organisations taking the long walk across the vast Makgadikgadi pans and raising over P400 000 for the Y Care Trust.
Companies that sponsored the walk and made it a success included Komatsu, Curry Pot, BDF, Botswana Telecommunications Corporation and beMobile, Stanbic Bank, FNBB, BIC, Shell, Mascom, Debswana, MRI, Native Impressions, The Voice and many others.

The walk has proven to be another way of exploring the beauty of Botswana’s nature and culture on foot, whilst raising funds for charity and organisers have expressed optimism in the future of the Trust. Y Care Coordinator Stellan Bengtsson said the response from participants and their respective organisations gave them the belief that the Trust was destined for bigger things.
“A number of sponsors have supported us since the Y Care inception and we have had others coming on board to make our cause a success. Walkers have always included employees of corporate sponsors, members of beneficiary organisations and individuals. With their common experiences during the walks, participants have always expressed a desire to repeat the walks and with the support from their organisations we are confident that there will be continuity in the Trust’s mandate.”

With the belief there is also the faith. Whilst subconsciously the effort was charitable, for most walkers the experience was for personal development.
“Back in the days I used to play women’s soccer at the University of Botswana but my fitness level has gone down. This walk has now reawakened my sense of fitness and when I get back to Gaborone I will do a lot of walking in preparation of the next walk,” said Khumo Lesiamang of Debswana.
Stanbic Bank team were also jubilant after completing the walk and having raised P97 500 towards the cause, team leaders Joel Stead and Rory Pollock could not hide their excitement. “We loved the team building exercise, especially that it inculcates the spirit of giving to less fortunate people in our communities,” said Joel Stead, Head Operations.

“I was impressed at the beauty of Makgadikgadi Pans. We enjoyed the walk much more because of Y-Care’s hospitality and energy. For an event that takes place in the middle of nowhere, the Y-Care team were highly organised, from the support team to the medical assistance,” said Onkabetse Morapedi, Sales Manager.
Modise Koofitlhile, the Y Care Chairman was equally overjoyed after the three-day walking experience and as The Voice caught up with him in the last 6km stretch of the walk, the strain and fatigue turned into a wide smile as he talked about the trust’s noble intentions. “Y Care is one of those charitable organisations with which corporations can use as a vehicle for their social responsibilities and at the same time involve their staff, through joining our walks for adventure, experiencing the beauty of our country, team building, making contacts and in some cases visiting some of the beneficiaries of the proceeds from the walks,” he said.

The funds raised by Y Care Charitable Trust are ploughed back into community projects based in Botswana. The money is used to address the different societal needs including youth, orphans and vulnerable children, development of art, the environment, health and sports. The Y Care Makgadikgadi Walk began in 2003 and has since benefited various charity causes such as the Y care leadership programme, Bana Ba Metsi School in Shakawe, Tsodilo Heritage Site, Mosu VDC, Cancer association and many others.

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