Children without parents

Orphans and vulnerable children vulnerability status vary from being paternal or maternal orphans, living under poverty, negligence, and abusive environment or living with HIV.
HPP staffs have documented their assistance to 1234 orphans and vulnerable children in 8 district. The assistance mostly consist of parental courses, counselling of the family, referral to the government social worker and follow up on the success. HPP has strengthened the ability to identify and respond to cases of child abuse and raise awareness of this issue in the community:
“In the beginning, with child abuse cases, if I saw a child being abused, I used to think, if I go into that house, I would be told to mind my own business! But now, I walk into that home, I don’t fear anything. I stand up for the rights of the child. I can even quote the act for a person and tell them they aren’t doing the right thing” (staff member, from: USAID Botswana Performance evaluation – Tsela Kgopo Gender & OVC project final report, November 2015, 62). As this quote suggests, with knowledge of child rights and legislation, staff members feel empowered to take action and also to respond to cases of abuse.

Eye Vision tests

HPP Botswana entered into a great partnership with LIONS Club in Gaborone and mobilized the caretakers to allow their OVC to attend the service. HPP then partnered with Bokamoso Private Hospital that showed another good gesture by transporting the children back and forth. This resulted in 36 Orphans and Vulnerable children from Molepolole and 20 Orphans and Vulnerable Youth from Ramotswa going for vision tests in Gaborone, where a LIONS club member runs an Optometrist shop. Twelve children, who needed glasses, later received them for free from the shop. This was a very big day for the children and a crucial support for the children and their care takers, as the children will be able to succeed better in school and in life.