The Nata village blog

www.mothersforall.com

June 21st 2009, was the second workshop provided by Mothers For All to Ntwakgolo Support group. The support group will continue to work on making necklaces, bracelets, and earings out of old magazines. The project will help the support group with sustainable living income. By using old magazines to create this beautiful product, it will reduce waste paper in the Village. This project will give the support group money and on the other hand, keep our environment clean. To view all the product go to www.mothersforall.org and place an order to support the cause. The Natavillage support group, Ntwakgolo is mainly women living with HIV and or supporting Orphan children living with the virus. 

CONTRIBUTIONS AT WORK

Nata Village has a population of 6000+ people living in six community wards. Each ward, which includes the following, Sekao, Basimane, Maaloso, Manakanagore, Makwenaejwang, and Kachikau each have one chief and a place to hold weekly meetings (kgotla). During the past years all six wards did not have a sign or anything identifying the community by their given name.In the coming month all six wards will have a large sign with the wards name on it. The signs will help each ward by posting announcements for the coming week or any special events. The community will benefit greatly from this project.

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY VISITS NATA VILLAGE

Nata Primary School got a warm visit from two professors, eight university students and one husband from Lake Superior State University in America to donate clothing, shoes, sports equipment and candy for the Orphan and Needy students. Their visit was short but enjoyable, during the distribution of all the items they collected in the States. More than 126 Orphan and Needy students received a pair of shoes, one t-shirt or jersey, one toy, one tooth brush with tooth paste, and a hand full of candy. All students were accompanied by their care givers during this great event. The distribution was made possible by the University, Nata Primary School Teachers, K. Rancholo, and Mr. Tiro. The care givers were very happy for this special event. The Orphan and Needy students were happy and excited for this great and wonderful contribution by Lake Superior State University. The visit from the University was an excellent day for all of us in Nata Village. 

The Visit by Lake Superior State University to Nata Village was the first of it's kind and hopefully not the last one by any school or organazation. 

NATIONAL MEASLES AND VITAMIN-A CAMPAIGN IN NATA VILLAGE

No child left behind is Nata's theme for the first round of vitamin-a supplementation in June 1st-7th. The Ministry Of Health is conducting a Measles and Vitamin-A National Compaign. During the campaign, all children aged nine months to five years will be given a dose of Measles vaccine. An oral dose of Vitamin-A will be given to all children aged six months to five years. All parents and caretakers are urged to bring their children to the vaccination posts during this campaign. The Ministry of health hopes everyone in Nata Village will take advantage of this opportunity to keep their children strong and healthy. 

OFFICIAL OPENING OF NORTH GATE LODGE

This was Nata’s greatest ever party!

 

Nata, that little village at the crossroads to Maun and Kasane, had never seen anything like it!

It seemed that the whole village turned out for the official opening of the swish North Gate Lodge and then went to the Nata Bird Sanctuary lookout point at Sua Pan to a mega party well into the night on Saturday.

It was a day and night villagers will never forget as lodge owner Seloma Tiro and his staff, led by general manager Peter McClelland and his wife Susan, deputy general manager, pulled out all the stops to make it a huge success.

The event at the lodge was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-Operation,Phandu Skelemani, who unveiled a plaque commemorating the event. Also present was Oliphant Mfa, MP for Nata/Gweta and Botswana Tourism Board chairperson Myra Sekgororoane, as well as other dignitaries.

Skelemani described Tiro as “a man from humble beginnings, much like most of us” who had first opened a trading store, then built a garage and also took over a filling station - “then to our surprise he knocked down the trading store and built the shopping centre. North Gate Lodge is the latest result.”

The minister said “realising a vision needs a lot of hard work - - “this is an encouragement to all of us. Dream big and you have the stamina.”

He described the lodge – which employs 35 people - as a significant development and a milestone for Nata and surrounding areas.   Predicting that the lodge will enhance business in Nata in general, Skelemani described it as an ideal location for travellers to the Chobe and the Okavango delta.

Sekgororoane told about 200 guests that tourism needed standards and that some tourism establishments were lacking in basic requirements.

“Service delivery is a source of concern,” she added.

After the formal proceedings, guests enjoyed a huge variety of food and refreshments around the pool area before many left for the Nata Bird Sanctuary, where food and refreshments were also served at a party that continued well into the night.