Botswana – SOS Social Centres

In Botswana there are currently two Social Centres for children and the local community, in Tlokweng and Francistown.  Many SOS Social Centres operate via Family Strengthening Programmes, which aim to support the wider community.  Below is some information about some of the Social Centres that SOS Children runs in Botswana:

SOS Social Centres around Botswana: In-Depth

Francistown

Description of SOS Social Centre/FSP:

The SOS Social Centre has been running its family strengthening programme since 2008, focussing on a package of services especially for HIV and AIDS affected families. In collaboration with communities and local authorities, families receive support to build their capacity to protect and care for their children (e.g. income generation, parental skills) and to gain access to essential services (e.g. education, medical care).

Work and Achievements:

Preliminary work was done in identifying children for the Kindergarten from child-headed households and after identifying vulnerable children in co-operation with social workers staff members registered the children. Our Field Officers have been very busy assisting with Courses in the income generating activities for Parents, and Granny headed households. Staff members also assisted with getting people to re-building houses and adding extra accommodation.

Tlokweng

Description of SOS Social Centre/FSP:

The SOS Social Centre has been running its family strengthening programme since 2008, focussing on a package of services especially for HIV and AIDS affected families. In collaboration with communities and local authorities, families receive support to build their capacity to protect and care for their children (e.g. income generation, parental skills) and to gain access to essential services (e.g. education, medical care).

Work and Achievements:

Staff began the registration of children for the 2009 year and a good deal of preliminary work had to be done to introduce the program into the community; select an area where we would operate and try to gain community support for our assistance to households. By the end of 2009 the program functioned well and three staff had been employed.