Tomeletso Sereetsi
15 October 2004
Mater Spei College in Francistown last weekend celebrated and recognised the humane character of five Form Four students. The unconventional award comes at a time when the nation is daunted with the challenge of reviving the spirit of botho as it is encapsulated in the Vision 2016 document as the fifth national principle.
The young philanthropists who were something of a social novelty on the award gallery comprised of conventional academic and sports achievers Matshepo Mosaninda, Chandapiwa Mgadla, Vivian Ndjavera, Tshepiso Moitlhobogi and Petronella Kaoyao.
They were awarded for being the most helpful students at the school after they volunteered to help a wheelchair bound classmate, Ndibo Motlhabane move about.
As Mgadla explains, they alternate at pushing her around in her wheelchair to places where she wants to go such as the toilet and refectory as well as preparing her desk and chair in class.
"Ndibo is a nice and friendly person. She radiates a bigger than life personality that gives boredom no chance when one is around her.
"She has a wonderful sense of humour. We grew up together and we used to play ball on the street and fit jigsaw puzzles. I appreciate that we have been given this award.
"It shows that they recognise what we are doing for her and hopefully, other students would follow our example and learn to appreciate that people with disability are just normal people like the rest of us," explains Kaoyao.
The students say that they had to show Motlhabane that she is loved. They want her not to feel out of place and discriminated for her physical disability.
They hope that their relationship with her would teach others not to be prejudiced against her on the basis of her disability. They believe that she can be everything she wants to be with the support of members of the community.
"We have long been friends since we were classmates at Tatitown primary school. I wish we could all make it to tertiary education together. We have become family and we just don't want to part ways," says Ndjavera.
Motlhabane can only beam with gratitude and happiness because the help she is receiving from her friends to blend with the rest of the students at the institution has been recognised.
She comes across as a typical teenager with a love for reading magazines, the feel good boy band sounds of Westlife and a dream to be a social worker of note.
She says that she is happy and cherishes the gift of friendship that gives her strength to pursue her dreams despite the many challenges she faces.
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