CHILDCARE FOR ALL Masiela Trust Fund shifts to protect ALL children
Concern raised over horrific stories on children
Masiela Trust Fund that has now been in existence for 21 years has launched the Bonang Bana Strategy, a national strategy aimed at shifting the organisation’s focus from care of orphaned and vulnerable children, to include all children.
Executive Director of Masiela Trust Fund, Magogodi Dabutha told the media prior to their fundraising gala dinner over the weekend that there are children who may not be orphans but may be suffering other vulnerabilities silently.
Held at Cresta Lodge, the gala dinner highlighted the need for society to come together and ensure the safety and care of children across the country. Dabutha said when it was established in 2001, Masiela Trust Fund was focused on advocacy for children’s rights and raising financial aid for orphans and vulnerable children, whose parents died of HIV/AIDS at the height of the pandemic.
Presidential Affairs Minister Kabo Morwaeng concurred that at the time, the country was experiencing high numbers of HIV/AIDS deaths that left many children orphaned. “It is for this reason that we recognise former president Festus Mogae because at the time, he was leading the fight against HIV/AIDS,” Morwaeng, who is also MP for Molepolole South, said. He said with the launch of the Bonang Bana Strategy, the Fund now takes a 360-degrees approach in recognising children’s needs. He is concerned that nowadays children commit suicide when it is least expected, some find comfort in drugs and alcohol abuse, adding that the new mandate will also extend to cover victims of human trafficking, which includes children. Minister Morwaeng said it is disheartening to realise that news outlets carry sad and horrific news about children day after day. “In light of these news reports, we need to individually question our contribution to the wellbeing
of children in our communities. What can we do to reverse the soaring cases of child abuse?” he asked. It is worrying that in many cases families know perpetrators, as most of them are friends and relatives, but no one is willing to report them to authorities. “Let us do the right thing to protect children. We have a tendency to protect perpetrators and the abuse therefore continues,” he said. Morwaeng said government, NGOs and cooperating partners are doing their share but they cannot do it alone. “By failing to take care of children we are failing to protect the future of this country. Children that are abused end up becoming abusers themselves,” he said. He added that people who come into contact with children in their line of work, for example, teachers, nurses, and social workers among others, should raise alarm when they suspect that a child may be in danger.
Minister of Rural Development, Talita Monnakgotla said the new strategy desires to see “a world fit for children.” Monnakgotla, who is also MP for Kgalagadi North described the Fund as a living model of what partnerships between government and civil society can achieve. “HIV/AIDS was a major disruptor for children who lost parents at the time. It however, accelerated the national action plan for safety of children
in Botswana and gave government new instruments to accelerate care of orphans and disadvantaged children,” she said. Monnakgotla further reaffirmed government’s commitment through her Ministry to embrace challenges regarding children and mitigate all emerging issues. “There is an urgent need for the nation to raise the bar higher in childcare. We know as Batswana that orphans exist not only because of HIV, but now also because of the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said, adding that the responsibility to care for children lies with everyone because “it takes a community to raise a child.” Dabutha, who is at the helm of Masiela Trust Fund hopes that the Bonang Bana National Strategy will be able to reach and positively impact the lives of more children across the country. Over the years they have discovered that children are exposed to more challenges including poverty, sexual abuse, drug and substance abuse, child trafficking, missing children, and child neglect among others. The Trust Fund has assisted over 25 000 children with education, therapeutic services and life skills development programmes, as well as addressing the needs of the vulnerable victims of human trafficking of which children are the most victimised.