Our History and Results

The organization has built its internal capacity through the following partnerships, programming, networks, and systems over the years:

Health & HIV Programs

Total Control of the Epidemic (TCE) – in Botswana known as Total Community Mobilization. (TCM)Total Control of the Epidemic (TCE) – in Botswana known as Total Community Mobilization. (TCM)Humana People to People Botswana first implemented the TCM 5-year campaign from 2001 to 2005, based on the flagship HIV/AIDS implementation model developed by the Federation Humana People to People called Total Control of the Epidemic.

This global model was taken to scale in Botswana by 450 Field Officers and 65 leaders in 12 districts, trained and lead by Humana People to People Botswana. Approximately 80% of the program funding was provided directly by the Government of Botswana via NACA, while 20% was funded by CDC. About 1,000 Field staffs were trained as lay counsellors by Humana People to People Botswana. The program model is based on the principle that individual action, in addition to the work of government and civic organizations, is a key to reducing the spread of HIV and TB. The program thus systematically educated and mobilized individuals en masse through a door-to-door campaign that encouraged lifestyle changes and preventive behaviour.

TCE reached 685,000 people through home visits and one-on-one sessions. TCE was rolled out as a frontrunner for the “MASA” program with the aim to scale up HAART and TB prevention in Botswana. TCE Field Officers and people discussed and planned own HIV risk reduction, testing and treatment. Field Officers referred individuals for ART treatment and formed Direct Observed treatment groups for adherence as wells as HIV positive support groups. Field Officers counselled and referred OVC to Department of Social Protection and followed up the family on success.

The TCE campaign includes building community role models, capacity building of peer groups, work place programs, school programs, church programs, programs for traditional healers and local leaders. 32,308 Peer educators and trained activists were instrumental in achieving the goals.The Community Mobilization methodology and many planning and M&E tools from TCE was later adopted as national methodologies by the Botswana government.

A CDC study carried out in 2001 in Tutume district of Humana People to People-Botswana’s TCE intervention found that those who were reached by the program had an improved knowledge of how HIV transmission can be prevented, an increased understanding of mother-to-child transmission, a lower degree of stigma around HIV and, were encouraged to seek an HIV test. The TCM program was evaluated in 2006, and is presented in the reports: “The Total Community Mobilization-[TCM] program in Botswana -an Evaluation Report” (NACA 2007) and “A Report On The Close-Out Assessment/ Evaluation of TCM Experts, In the Training of Field Officers in Total Community Mobilization” (NACA April 2006).In 2003-2011 Humana People to People Botswana partnered with Makgabaneng Radio drama (BOTUSA) to boost the discussion between Parents and Children on all social issues by forming radio drama listening groups in Ghanzi and Tutume districts. (NASTAD, 2003. Makgabaneng Listenership Survey).

In 2005, BOTUSA provided funding to train all community leaders in the country over one year in HIV prevention and how to develop their own plans to contribute to fight the HIV epidemic. As a continuation, in 2007 BOTUSA funded the training of all traditional and spiritual healers in Kweneng West district, since they represented a threat to overcoming the HIV epidemic. This work continued from 2008-2010 with funding from Tebelopele. HOPE Humana Kweneng has worked in the communities since then.
Humana People to People Botswana from 2006 has worked in Mabutsane sub district by the HOPE HIV/AIDS program, funded first by PACT International (PEPFAR) and later by PSI. Mabutsane sub district consists of 14 villages and 4 settlements with 15,000 people in rural, poor communities in the Kalahari Desert. From 2009 to 2011, Humana People to People Botswana partnered with AED in the “Capable Partners Project.” Humana People to People Botswana worked on prevention, care and support in Mabutsane and Mahalapye districts. HOPE Humana Mabutsane has continued to work in these communities since that time.

In 2006 Humana People to People Botswana entered into a partnership with PSI (PEPFAR) targeting people who use alcohol through “Men in Bars” in Greater Gaborone and a separate multiple concurrent partnerships program in Lobatse. The partnership started the HOPE Humana Lobatse and HOPE Gaborone projects and continued for 6 years.
Humana People to People Botswana joined a consortium for the PEPFAR-funded “Basha Lesedi” program for youth prevention and parent - child communication from 2007 to 2011, which brought FHI360 into Botswana. It was implemented by Humana People to People Botswana in the Goodhope and North East districts with 18 staff stationed in the communities. HOPE Humana Goodhope has worked in all the villages of Goodhope since then.

At the same time, HOPE Humana continued HIV field work in Palapye district, financed by DMSAC. This developed into a program targeting sex workers and truck drivers, financed by ACHAP between 2006-2008. In 2007, Humana People to People Botswana entered into a partnership with Pathfinder International. During that partnership, Field Officers targeted young men and mobilized them to focus on HIV prevention and care in South East, Kweneng East, Palapye and Serowe districts for three years.

HOPE Humana Palapye project has continued implementing in all villages of Palapye since then.From 2010 to 2014, Humana People to People Botswana was funded by the World Bank through NACA via the Botswana National AIDS Partnerships (BNAPS) on HIV prevention and Care for the age group 15-49 in Goodhope, South East, Kweneng, Palapye, Selebi-Phikwe and Francistown districts. HOPE Humana South East and Francistown started in 2010 and they have worked in these communities since then.

People as agents of change

Humana People to People Botswana utilises the “Community Capacity Enhancement through Community Conversations” (CCE-CC) on to encourage and catalyse discussion about issues important to the community. CCE-CC focuses on people and builds on their interactions, strengths and resources. It is an interactive process that involves observing, reflecting, questioning and making decisions together for changes needed in the community.

After attending several discussion sessions, community members develop and implement their community action plans.Humana People to People Botswana utilises the “Community Capacity Enhancement through Community Conversations” (CCE-CC) on to encourage and catalyse discussion about issues important to the community. CCE-CC focuses on people and builds on their interactions, strengths and resources. It is an interactive process that involves observing, reflecting, questioning and making decisions together for changes needed in the community.

After attending several discussion sessions, community members develop and implement their community action plans. “Communities Acting together to Control HIV” Program (CATCH) began as a pilot and has been running since June 2015 in South East district by Humana People to People Botswana, funded by UNAIDS and NACA. The approach is hosted by the traditional leadership. Communities come together as agents of change. Community members analyse community problems related to health, identify the changes needed, dream about the community they want to create, make plans and take action. This movement will spread through communities.

Humana People to People Botswana is facilitating this program. The activities are being built from groups in communities in a “bottom up” approach. It must be created by communities and should not be branded from outside.

HIV home testing

During 2007, Humana People to People Botswana and Tebelopele carried out a Home-Based HIV Testing Pilot Study, financed by CDC through AED in Bobirwa and Selebi-Phikwe, where Humana People to People Botswana had worked with TCM. This pilot was the first home based testing study for the Ministry of Health in Botswana.During 2007, Humana People to People Botswana and Tebelopele carried out a Home-Based HIV Testing Pilot Study, financed by CDC through AED in Bobirwa and Selebi-Phikwe, where Humana People to People Botswana had worked with TCM. This pilot was the first home based testing study for the Ministry of Health in Botswana.In 2011, Humana People to People Botswana started its own HIV testing in Goodhope and Kweneng District, financed by Tebelopele.

HOPE Humana in Goodhope has been conducting HIV tests since then, while also reaching all the villages with a focus on HIV community mobilization.Humana People to People Botswana partnered with ACHAP in 2012 to focus on male circumcision of school youth and adult HIV negative men in Gaborone, Palapye and Serowe.In 2013 and 2014, Humana People to People Botswana contributed its skills to the roll out of the “Ya Tsie” - Botswana Combination Prevention Village and Peri-Urban Randomised Trial.

CDC funded Harvard School of Public Health, Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute and Tebelopele. Tebelopele subcontracted Humana People to People Botswana. Combination prevention consists of HIV prevention, home HIV testing, new trials of ART treatment, medical male circumcision, PMTCT, post-exposure prophylaxis and TB treatment. Humana People to People Botswana mobilized 90% of each community for HTC.

Humana People to People Botswana is currently (2016) in partnership with FHI360 on the “Advancing Partners and Communities” Project, in the districts, Goodhope, Southern and South East. The program primarily targets adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) to prevent HIV, to do targeted index HIV testing (HTC), as well as gender norm discussions and support to GVB victims.

Humana People to People Botswana refers cases and secure treatment uptake, screen for TB, test for TB, and provide “Community TB Care”. 33 staff members work in the communities and 18 of them also provide HTC.

Gender Norms and Gender Based Violence

In the Tsela Kgopo program and in the APC program, people in need participate in gender norms and gender based violence (GBV) discussions (10 hours/ person). As a result of the discussions, Humana People to People Botswana facilitators identify GBV victims.

Humana People to People Botswana staff then assist GBV victims with psychosocial support and referrals. Humana People to People Botswana staff also advocate to government officials to strengthen service delivery.

Orphans ad Vulnerable Children Program

The organization utilizes the “Child Aid” integrated model, which has been developed by the Humana People to People International Federation to create holistic community development. Child Aid aims to build long-term capacity in communities to reduce poverty and to give children and their families the best conditions for growth and development. The program reaches at least 6,000 households or 30,000 people per year. The approach is family-centered and supports children in all areas of development.The organization utilizes the “Child Aid” integrated model, which has been developed by the Humana People to People International Federation to create holistic community development. Child Aid aims to build long-term capacity in communities to reduce poverty and to give children and their families the best conditions for growth and development. The program reaches at least 6,000 households or 30,000 people per year. The approach is family-centered and supports children in all areas of development.

Humana People to People Botswana’s work with orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) started in 2001 through the TCM program. Funding specifically for OVC started in 2006 in Selebi-Phikwe with PEPFAR support through PACT International, and continued in Selebi-Phikwe through PCI from 2008 to 2010 in the “Building Bridges” Project. Humana People to People Botswana then formed part of the “Tsela Kgopo” OVC and Gender Project in three districts: Mabutsane, Ghanzi and Phikwe. It operated from 2011 through July 2016.

In Tsela Kgopo, Humana People to People Botswana move door to door to assess family and individual vulnerability and needs. Humana People to People Botswana field staff then support the family to join Village action groups and in the development of a plan for the individual and the family, which is then implemented with the help of the Humana People to People Botswana field staff. The program provided 2,757 people with at least one service between October 2014 and June 2015. The services provided included were many. Some of them were provision of information about and referral for: HIV testing, food basket and school support if eligible from Social and Community Development (Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development).

Education

The Child Aid program was mobilizing parents and community members regarding the importance of education and enrollment into primary schooling. Humana People to People Botswana has trained Teachers, Social workers, Police officers, NGO staff and other government officers on the “Journey of Life” (JOL) methodology. JOL is designed to help children, youth and adults to become more aware of the needs and problems of children who live in difficult circumstances.

JOL has help 256 children and youth in the past year to overcome traumatic experiences in their own past and to plan for and take decisions for creating a better future. Humana People to People Botswana has used JOL in Schools to address student challenges such as school drop outs and teenage pregnancy. JOL clubs are also formed in schools. At this point (early 2016), 150 families/care givers have been trained in the JOL methodology.

Communities are also involved in getting children back into school who dropped out. Through the CFC model, Humana People to People Botswana has built and strengthened collaborations and working relations with other service providers such as the Health Care facilities, Gender Affairs Department, Schools, NGOs, Police, Private Sector and other Government departments.

Integrated Early Childhod Development

Also, Humana People to People Botswana has supported existing preschools and has been operating various Community Play groups and providing homework support to children in need. 250 children have been enrolled in the play groups since the inception of the program in 2013, and 185 have graduated and continued to primary school.

Worst forms of Child Labour:
Humana People to People Botswana also addresses all forms of child labour. Our work started in Ghanzi in 2010 to 2011 with funding from the European Union. The program consisted of child labour prevention in vulnerable communities, child labour withdrawal from farm work, and the integration of the children back into school. This work was scaled up in Serowe, Palapye and Bobirwa districts with funding from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 2010-2012.

Womens Economic Strengthening

People join neighbourhood committees and savings groups. Over the past 18 months, Humana People to People Botswana has assisted 747 women and 87 men who started 74 “Women’s Empowerment” / “Grass Roots building Our Wealth” (GROW) savings groups.People join neighbourhood committees and savings groups.

Over the past 18 months, Humana People to People Botswana has assisted 747 women and 87 men who started 74 “Women’s Empowerment” / “Grass Roots building Our Wealth” (GROW) savings groups.The savings groups form an internal microloan scheme. The groups made 179 loans. Many members took loans to invest in family health, family education, family housing and start-up of productions. Government loan institutions provided business training. All GROW groups took part in discussions on HIV, gender-based Violence and sexual reproductive health (SRH) issues.

As a result of the family counseling introduced through GROW facilitators, many women were received the support and backup from their family to become members of the GROW program. Some members choose to enrol in adult literacy. Humana People to People Botswana has assisted members to develop livelihood initiatives and helped groups to access government business grants and poverty alleviation programs.

Youth employment programs

Humana People to People Botswana also implements youth-focused interventions: The Youth Employment Program (YEP) that address the employability of disadvantaged young people and helps children to achieve birth certificates. Nineteen youth have opted to enrol in the Botswana Brigades for vocational training and in Institute of Health Science this year. Some youth have entered into jobs in supermarkets and in local government departments. Another 25 youth have applied for and received government grants from the Ministry of Agriculture (ISPAAD & LIMIT) this year (2016).Humana People to People Botswana also implements youth-focused interventions:

The Youth Employment Program (YEP) that address the employability of disadvantaged young people and helps children to achieve birth certificates. Nineteen youth have opted to enrol in the Botswana Brigades for vocational training and in Institute of Health Science this year. Some youth have entered into jobs in supermarkets and in local government departments. Another 25 youth have applied for and received government grants from the Ministry of Agriculture (ISPAAD & LIMIT) this year (2016).Also, Humana People to People Botswana has supported existing preschools and has been operating various Community Play groups and providing homework support to children in need. 250 children have been enrolled in the play groups since the inception of the program in 2013, and 185 have graduated and continued to primary school.

Agriculture:

Finally, Humana People to People Botswana-Botswana conducts lessons in how to improve agricultural outcomes, and campaigns to spread this information widely through programming that supports the establishment of back yard vegetable gardens and provides skills training in how to cook nutritional food. People are taught how to dry various types of produce and how to harvest and process the wild fruits that people collect in nature. During 2014, community members formed 580 nutrition gardens.

Legal services: Birth Registration

From Ghanzi, Humana People to People Botswana Child Aid reports: We have been working the Department of Civil and National Registration in both Ghanzi and Charles hill. One of the Challenges that are faced with the district is that there is no transport to reach out to settlements.

Child Aid Ghanzi has supported 106 (41females and 65 males) people with birth registration and 1 with death registration. 21(9 females and 12 males) have managed to get both the birth certificates and identity cards. The site also supported 21 who have received their birth certificates.