Botswana’s leading car rental service, Avis Rent a Car, with Bagodi ba Rona (BBR) last weekend held lunch for the elderly in Gaborone.
Bagodi ba Rona is an NGO founded by Mable Basson in 2003, with the aim of empowering and working with the elderly in society and was registered in 2009.
It is currently working with a group of elderly people based in Old Naledi in Gaborone and is engaged in projects like patch-work sewing and back-yard vegetable gardening.
Speaking at the lunch, Basson said, “Our desire is to have a recreational center for the elderly and we are sincerely looking for assistance as well as support for the elderly who are like a forgotten species in our society. We are really concerned about their plight and their loneliness. We would appreciate to get support of any kind to continue our services to the senior members of society who are largely uncared for.”
She also mentioned that most of the elders in the country have positively contributed a lot to where Botswana is now in their different capacities.
For his part, the General Manager, Avis, Julian Hill, declared that they identified the needy as their part of social responsibility.
“I have been blessed to work with a passionate team and it is an exciting weekend for all of us. The gesture, which has now become a common feature of Avis’ regular corporate social responsibility practice among underprivileged communities, was borne of compassion and the desire for just and caring nation worth the ideals espoused by the country’s Vision 2016.
Avis Botswana offers car rentals, short-term rentals of a varied fleet of vehicles, and fleet services.
Being part of Barloworld Group, they service a significant portion of their fleets through Barloworld Motor Botswana.
Another member of Bagodi Ba Rona, Dr. Rekha Kumar, said that with assistance of public support, they will definitely be able to reach every corner of the country.
“It is our mutual responsibility towards the elderly and it is high time we join hands to show that we care. Our ambition is to extend this countrywide and not only in Gaborone. For the time being, we are still limited to Old Naledi,” said Kumar.
After lunch, Bagodi Ba Rona members, together with Avis management and staff, took a refreshing tour to the national airport.
Last year, they toured the National Art Gallery, shopping and other recreational centers.
