Botswana Without Orphans

Total Population: 2.4 million
Total Children under the age of 18: 920,000

Children outside of Parental Care:

Estimated number of orphans: 44,327 are orphans, and 36,183 are registered vulnerable children (Credit United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report).

The Challenges:

  • Approximately 35% of children are orphans or vulnerable (including almost 3% who are both orphaned and vulnerable), while 65% of children are non-OVC. These estimates do not include children living in an abusive environment, HIV-positive, or living outside family care.
  • Many of the most vulnerable children do not live in family settings. These include children who live or spend time on the streets; children who live in residential care facilities; children who live in centers for people with disabilities; children who live (during the school year) in remote area development hostels; and children who have been placed in detention or reform centers.
  • Child abuse is rampant as parents are afraid to report cases due to judicial procedures. This leaves many children scared and facing those who repeatedly violated them roaming around the streets freely.
  • In the past, the vulnerability of children was due to illnesses such as HIV/AIDS. We are now witnessing a pattern of child neglect which makes children prone to different types of abuse.

Botswana Without Orphans works to:

  • Mobilize people and resources to support and provide care for orphans across the nation.
  • Facilitate support and care for orphans by the civic community and general community.
  • Amplify awareness of the plight of orphans in Botswana and provide the way forward from a biblical standpoint.
  • Provide training to raise awareness with church leaders, parents, caretakers, professionals, and non-governmental organizations about trauma in orphans and vulnerable children.
  • Sensitize communities and churches on child protection activities and children's rights
  • Educate communities of judicial procedures with regards to child protection 
  • Encourage communities and churches to teach children about abstinence and delayed sexual debut. 60% of children who are subjected to child neglect are a result of unplanned teenage pregnancy.

Other Information about Orphaned and Vulnerable Children and Family Care in Botswana

Better Care Network Information on Family-Based Care in Botswana

More information for prayer at Operation World

 

"Source: UNICEF, Humanium, SOS Children's Villages International".

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