Using school-based and home-based education to promote sexual and reproductive health

With a population of 2.3 million, Botswana has the fourth-highest HIV prevalence (20.3%) in the world, despite the provision of universal free ART to people living with HIV.

Rural youth (10-17 age group) have limited opportunities to learn about sexual and reproductive health issues, which makes them vulnerable to contracting a sexually transmitted infection, unintended pregnancies, contracting HIV, and experiencing gender-based violence.

In 2018 and 2019, we worked with a diverse group of stakeholders, including youth groups, schoolteachers, clinic staff, and students to develop a comprehensive sexual and reproductive education program for students in the local Junior High School and their parents.

We plan to pilot this program beginning in summer 2022.

Inclusive social club/mainstreaming disability

Individuals with disabilities are largely underrepresented and underserved in rural communities in Botswana.

There are limited opportunities available for individuals with disabilities to receive proper education, quality health care or positive social interaction.

Building on the needs assessment that was carried out by Botswana program interns in 2018, we evaluated the level of services offered to individuals with disabilities in the Masupe Primary School’s Special Education program and the Maunatlala Clinic.

We also conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions to learn about the perceptions and attitudes of community members towards disability.

We engaged diverse stakeholders to develop a comprehensive plan to effectively address the needs of people with disabilities.

This program provides afterschool activities for children led by community youth leaders and promotes healthy relationship building, self-efficacy, self-image and inclusion of children with disabilities. Older youth leaders serve as mentors.

The program helps children cultivate essential life skills and develop positive social and emotional skills. We plan to also provide family learning opportunities. The program instills in youth the values, ideas and practices of leadership, community service, self-efficacy and inclusion.

Brighter Kids Program

This afterschool program creates a safe, friendly learning environment for children 5-12 years old.

Program activities include structured and unstructured reading and learning, arts and crafts, computer skills, structured physical activities, excursions and game nights.

The program uses games and toys to help children sharpen their learning skills, promote critical thinking, and develop intellectually, physically and emotionally.

Alcohol-Free Village

Several community members, youth leaders and community leaders identified alcohol/substance abuse as a serious social problem in Maunatlala.

As the pastime usage of alcohol has risen, along with the popularity of local bars, many social problems have arisen concurrently including theft, violence and negative health behaviors generally attributable to drinking.

Youth have been identified specifically as heavy users of alcohol, largely due to both high rates of unemployment and limited social outlets within the community.

To address this issue, we carried out a community needs assessment to better understand the current situation and develop a more comprehensive intervention plan to address this social problem.

We are currently developing an innovative community-based and community-supported alcohol abuse prevention program.

The program will be pilot tested in summer 2022.

Preventing gender-based violence/intimate partner violence

Nearly 67% of women in Botswana have experienced some form of gender-based violence (GBV) in their lifetime.

These include both partner and non-partner violence. Nearly 44% of men in Botswana admit to perpetrating violence against women.

There are limited formal mechanisms available to women for reporting instances of GBV or intimate partner violence.

With support from community leaders and government-appointed social workers in Maunatlala, we plan to conduct a household survey and target focus group discussions to better understand the problem of gender-based violence in the community and develop community-led GBV prevention programs.