China News Service, Beijing, January 28th, title: It is indispensable to protect the "second hometown". The Chinese in Botswana and the local people join hands to fight the epidemic

　　Chinanews reporter Wu Kan

　　"The Chinese are an excellent member of the people of Botswana. They set a good example for other ethnic groups." Botswana Vice President Schlumberg Tsogwane once praised the performance of local Chinese in the fight against the epidemic.

　　At present, the new crown pneumonia epidemic in Botswana is still continuing. Overseas Chinese and overseas Chinese have helped the local people fight the epidemic by donating money and materials to the local people and helping orphanages at designated locations. These actions have also been recognized by the government and the people.

A reporter from Chinanews.com recently interviewed Nan Gengxu, president of the Botswana Chinese Charity Foundation, and listened to him telling the warm story of the Chinese fighting the epidemic.

　Masks and beef sent to the children's village

　　In the outskirts of Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, there is a SOS Children’s Village. There are more than 100 children living here, most of whom are orphans whose parents have died early or need help.

　　SOS Children’s Village needs a large amount of social donations each year. These donations are greatly reduced during the epidemic. The operation of the Children’s Village is facing great difficulties. Epidemic prevention is even more difficult. Children go to school every day without masks and hand sanitizers.

　　"Understanding this situation, our Chinese Charity Foundation purchased a large number of masks and hand sanitizers and sent them to the Children's Village in June last year, and taught the children how to protect themselves." Nan Gengxu said. In addition, the foundation Every month, the children will be sent fresh beef, fruits, vegetables and other foods to help them improve their meals and ensure adequate nutrition.

　　Nan Gengxu introduced that the Botswana Chinese Charity Foundation has been helping the SOS Children’s Village for 20 years. It has also established the "Chinese Charity Foundation Care Center" here to improve the living environment, provide food and supplies, improve education, and organize free physical examination , Organizing cultural activities and other ways to help children.

　　"The lives of children are particularly difficult under the epidemic, so we increase our assistance and increase the supply of living materials." Nan Gengxu said that the last time we went to see the children was at the end of December last year. We were very happy to see them healthy and happy. Gratified.

　　A large fundraising event involving all overseas Chinese

　　Helping the SOS Children’s Village is just one of the many love activities the foundation has recently held.

"We also made targeted donations to government departments and other people in need." Nan Gengxu said.

　　He introduced that after the outbreak of COVID-19 in Botswana at the end of March, the Chinese Charity Foundation initiated an initiative in the overseas Chinese community to donate money and materials to the local area. Up to now, it has raised nearly 10 million yuan in cash and anti-epidemic materials, which have been donated to the national health. Departments, anti-epidemic foundations, hospitals, police stations, schools, art groups, impoverished villages, etc.

　　"Many overseas Chinese in Botswana and Chinese business enterprises have participated in the donation, including Chinese business entrepreneurs, Chinese teachers, Chinese restaurant owners, factory workers, etc., and many Chinese children donated their own New Year's money." Nan Gengxu said, he 9 The year-old child heard about the fundraising news and took out his own small piggy bank and donated all the New Year's money.

　　Nan Gengxu told reporters that the epidemic in Botswana is still serious. The government has been actively fighting the epidemic and has invested a lot of energy and financial resources to control the epidemic.

"We understand that there is a lack of testing reagents and protective materials in the local area. Last year we also donated testing reagents, hand sanitizer and other materials worth US$200,000 to the Botswana Epidemic Prevention Fund, the Ministry of Health and the Botswana National Defense Force.

　Chinese businessmen develop against the trend to boost economic recovery

　　It is understood that Botswana currently has about 10,000 overseas Chinese and Chinese-funded enterprise employees, mainly engaged in trade, engineering contracting, catering, tourism, building materials production and processing, advertising media and other industries.

During the epidemic, they developed against the trend and helped Botswana's economic recovery after the epidemic.

　　The epidemic changed the rhythm of life and work in Nan Gengxu.

In the past year, he changed most of his business management to online communication and remote command.

In addition, he also participated in the organization of more than 10 online forums.

Among them, the most memorable one was the first Botswana Agricultural Innovation Forum held on November 27 last year.

　　"It was really a timely rain and a lot of harvest!" During the epidemic, Nan Gengxu established Africa Agriculture Co., Ltd. to focus on drought-resistant and water-saving crops.

"The epidemic has made the food security problems in African countries such as Botswana more prominent. Because agriculture has been slow to produce results, many people are unwilling to invest. But I want to do my best to solve the food security problems in Africa."

　　In addition, in 2020, a Chinese hospital in Gaborone will be officially put into use, which is jointly built by local overseas Chinese. The hospital provides better medical protection for overseas Chinese and local people.

In addition, local Chinese food supermarkets and Chinese restaurants also operated strictly in accordance with epidemic prevention measures during the epidemic to ensure the supply of materials and food.

　　"We have all lived in Botswana for many years, and we have great feelings for it. Everyone feels that we should do our part to help the local people." Nan Gengxu said that in the context of the new crown pneumonia raging in Africa, the Chinese in Botswana are interacting with the local people The people join hands to fight the epidemic and face the epidemic with a united and friendly attitude.

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