Message from Allan Culham: After looking at various proposals, your organizing group would like to propose that for the OMCP that we support the Botswana Gender Based Violence Prevention and Support Centre (formerly Kagisano Society Women's Shelter). Below you will find a small note from Lorato Moalusi, the CEO of the Centre, as well as three attachments that describe the Centre's work. I think you will all agree that they are doing relevant and important work in the prevention of gender based violence. In support of the Centre, we would like to solicit your financial contribution at the time of the Reunion on July 6. Contributions will be accepted either in cash or by cheque payable to "cash". Helmut Kuhn and I will be responsible for the collecting and accounting of the donations. We will then ensure that the full amount is transferred to the Centre in Gaborone. In recognition of the importance of our years in Botswana and the impact that those years had upon our lives, please feel free to donate any amount that you are comfortable with. While our overall financial contribute to the Centre may be modest, I am sure that it will be welcome and have an impact on their ongoing work in the prevention of gender based violence. ================ Dear Allan Culham I am Lorato Moalusi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Gender Based Violence Prevention and Support Centre (formerly Kagisano Society Women's Shelter). We have been in touch with Patricia Kole regarding the support you wish to provide to our organisation. I am attaching here documents that give information about our work. Let me know if you need further information. In the address below is our website. Kindly note that we are currently reconstructing our website. You can also visit our Facebook Page at Botswana Gender Based Violence Prevention and Support Centre; Twitter - BGBVC@SocietyKagisano. |
Here is an additional message from Lorato Moalusi, dated June 24, 2019, in which she summarizes closures of centres caused by lack of funding:
Greetings Allan and thank you for your email. At the time of the Interview were working in the following areas:
We moved the Serowe site to Palapye and the Sebina one to Masunga. We are in conversations with possibility of closing Masunga, Kasane and Selebi Phikwe. That will leave us with Gaborone, Gantsi, Palapye, Molepolole and Thamaga at the beginning of 2020. Gender Based Violence in Botswana is rampant and the need is there, however, there is limited resources to sustain the work. Part of it is change in focus by the few donors that are remaining in Botswana. You may be aware that Botswana was declared by World Bank a High Middle Income country some years ago. This resulted in donor fatigue who had to move resources to "more" deserving countries. The reality on the ground is totally different as government is not doing what the donors expect when it comes to funding the work done by NGOs. So, by beginning of 2020 we may only have five sites. I hope this answers your question. Best regards, Lorato |
For a reflection on the gift of resilience and a ringing endorsement of the choice of Botswana Gender Based Violence Prevention and Support for our OMCP, see Deborah Bonser's Special Feature, "When You Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock," at the top of the Stories page. |
Download These Documents for Information on the Botswana Gender Based Violence Prevention and Support Centre:
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