TUT says NO to hygiene poverty in celebration of Mandela Day

by Nomalanga Mkhaliphi


16 August 2022

In celebration of Mandela Month, TUT’s Department of Management and Entrepreneurship (M&E) visited the Rose Happy Times Elderly Centre in Atteridgeville on Tuesday, 26 July 2022, to donate 67 sanitary gear to children fostered by the elderly.

The late Nelson Mandela said that “it is time for new hands to lift the burdens. It is in your hands now.” The Department of Management and Entrepreneurship has heeded the late Madiba’s call to action to celebrate Mandela Day with the community in Atteridgeville under the theme, “Impact and sustainability.”

Dr Patrick Ebewo, M&E Head of Department, said TUT is a University that empowers people, not only students but also the community at large. He further said that the University supports the vision of the Rose Happy Times Elderly Centre. To celebrate Mandela Day, the University says NO to hygiene poverty in support of the girl child on the hygiene journey.

“I am here to say to the girls, you matter to us, you matter to your community, you matter to South Africa, you matter to Africa, and you definitely matter to the world. So, the other commitment I will give today is that we shall be back and are looking at setting up the garden for the community, and this will be followed by other programmes linked to entrepreneurship,” said Dr Ebewo.

Dr Ebewo further said, the centre has enough capacity for training. With so many young people struggling to find jobs in the community, entrepreneurship becomes a rapid answer to some of these challenges young people face every day.  “The department is the custodian of entrepreneurship at the University, and we wish to assist young people interested in entrepreneurship and acquire or enhance their skills in this regard. We plan to provide a free 20-week simulated entrepreneurship programme for those interested,” he alluded.

Boitumelo Segopolo, CEO of Rose Happy Times Elderly Centre, extended her utmost gratitude to the TUT team and everyone who came to support the initiative. “There is an African idiom that says 'Motho ke motho ka batho'.” We are grateful for everything the University continues to do for us.

 
 
 

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