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AIDS Orphans: Botswana
Most of the children orphaned by AIDS live in developing countries, the vast majority in Sub-Saharan Africa. The orphaned children are the most vulnerable groups in society. Their communities have been weakened by HIV/AIDS, their schools, health systems, care-delivery systems and other social support networks are negatively affected. The people in these communities are struggling with challenges to children’s well-being and survival after the death of a parent.
Some national governments have set out clear guidelines for the care and support of orphans in their communities. There is a need to involve all members of the community in addressing the issue of orphans. The community should have a feeling of ownership for sustainability, empowerment and cost effectiveness of the programmes.
Botswana has got more than 51,000 registered orphans, and only about 20% of them are cared for by relatives, while the rest are fed, clothed and educated by the state. The spirit of voluntarism has declined and the challenge becomes how to keep and motivate volunteers. Communities still need to be educated on issues to do with adoption. Many orphans could benefit from the adoption policies if they are adopted in their immediate communities.
Mothers’ Union Day Care Centre, Mahalapye
The Centre strives to care for and support the children in Mahalapye and surrounding villages who are orphaned. It seeks to provide both support to caregivers and extended families and to create a caring and supportive environment for orphans and vulnerable children in which they can develop the necessary skills and attitude for a healthy life.
The Centre started in 2000 with 30 children and now there are 131 children registered. These range in age from two and a half to six years old. The children are taught introductory skills in mathematics, language, writing, games, colouring, interactive play and physical education. Two mini-buses transport children to and from the Day Care Centre and take them to hospital or help with home visits. A Parent Teacher Association provides a forum for caregivers and staff to share ideas and explore new ways for parents and teachers to work together for the wellbeing of the children
MU Day Care recently completed a new facility which will serve as an after-school centre for primary school orphans and vulnerable children. They will be collected from school, have lunch at the Centre and receive tutorials and home assistance.
In our first three years, 76 students have graduated from MU Day Care Centre and all have successfully gone on to primary education in various Mahalapye schools.
This project is the result of partnership between a wide range of organisations such as the Village Development Committee of Mahalapye, local clinics and hospitals, District AIDS Committees, Botswana Railways, several banks as well as government and international agencies.
Since June 2006, a new programme initiated by an organisation based in the U.S. is running for three years at the Day Care Centre. The orphans and vulnerable children aged seven to 18 years will be collected at the local schools after school. Here at the Centre, they’ll have lunch, supervised homework and extra-mural activities like sports, gardening and music. With this new programme we shall be enrolling 150 orphans and vulnerable children from the Primary, Junior and Senior Secondary schools. As the number of children increases so does the number of officers and staff – and the need for more teacher training.
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