Bana Ba Letsatsi was formed in 2002 in response to growing number of children who were working on the streets, suffering abuse, dropping out of school and addicted to drugs in our community. We are a non-governmental organisation providing essential support services to children, youth and their caregivers at risk in Maun, northern Botswana. Bana Ba Letsatsi offers a range of programs whose common core is to support, encourage, rehabilitate and empower these young people to return to mainstream schools, establish a drug and crime free life, and become productive members of our future society. Bana Ba Letsatsi, meaning Sunshine Children in Setswana, is a day-shelter centre that offers a place of safety for those registered with us. From here we provide ongoing support in the form of counselling, education, skills training, daily meals, sports, clothes, transport, medical attention, hygiene facilities and many other activities. Each individual is assessed and monitored, and a program implemented in line with their needs. This three-stage assessment includes interviews with the child, relatives and school. The challenges that the children we support can face is a lack of parental care; having dropped out or never been to school; suffering sexual or physical abuse; begging or working underage and abusing glue and other drugs. Child assessments and home visits are conducted to ensure the children can be classified as children at risk. Regular home visits are carried out whenever possible to meet with parents or relatives to further assess the problems facing a child and counsel the families. If we are unable to re-introduce the child to school we will add them to our non-formal morning classes held at the centre, until such a time that they are ready to attend a formal school. When we are able to re-introduce to official schools, we monitor their progress daily; our counselors are always in contact with the school teachers. Where children have voluntarily dropped out of school, counseling sessions are held to uncover the reasons behind leaving. This, together with visits to the school, allows us to find an acceptable solution for each child. Working with the Government social workers, Bana Ba Letsatsi also ensures that the child has the necessary uniforms, books, transport money and other essential resources. A workshop alongside our centre was built to facilitate family initiative programs, where the caregivers of our vulnerable children may learn skills and be facilitated to earn a small income. Youth development has been a strong focus at Bana Ba Letsatsi to train older children in plumbing, brick-laying and roofing and assisting them in finding permanent employment. Each member of the Bana Ba Letsatsi staff team works to support those registered with us in every way that is necessary. We believe that children are our future.
