Projects in Botswana

Health

Botswana has made significant strides in previous years through its strong healthcare programs; however, it is important to maintain these gains by expanding the focus of these programs. The Government of Botswana (GOB), through the Ministry of Health, National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA), Ministry of local Government and Traditional Affairs and Civil Society Organizations has committed to revitalizing the primary health care and ensuring individual and community centered approaches to empowering individuals, families, and communities. 60% of the population in Botswana are considered youth, and keeping youth healthy is essential. The GOB’s focus on community level primary health care is in line with Peace Corps’ strengths of working in collaboration with communities, especially with youth. The project works with community healthcare workers, community-based officers, nurses, social workers and project officers at non-governmental organizations, clinics and the District AIDS Coordinating offices to address three major objectives.

Guided by the work of the GOB, and other partners, Peace Corps Volunteers, along with their Counterparts and Supervisors, contribute to key areas to improve youth health and wellbeing and HIV treatment and care in their communities. Support facilities in supply chain management. Volunteers are uniquely placed in positions where they are trained and skilled to ensure services are reaching the most vulnerable and that messages are being disseminated and understood by youth to enable them to have access to the means to live safe, healthy lives.

Project goal

Youth in Botswana effectively lead healthy, HIV-free lives by 2030.

Project objectives

• Increase the knowledge and skills of youth to improve their health and remain HIV-free
• Improve treatment adherence and general health and well-being for youth and adolescents living with HIV
• Strengthening facility and community Primary Health Care for effective youth friendly services

As a Volunteer under Botswana’s HIV/AIDS and Youth Health and Wellbeing project, one is expected to demonstrate a high degree of flexibility, initiative, and innovation. This is due to the Peace Corps community participatory approach, and the nature of your workplace Volunteers are placed at either a clinic, health post, or non-governmental organization (NGO) / civil society organization (CSO) in rural, semi-rural, and semi-urban communities through Botswana. The Government of Botswana recognizes CSOs as comparative partners as they form part of the communities and can be found in hard-to-reach populations.

Community Economic Development

Peace Corps Botswana has identified the need to develop a community economic development project that aligns with current key priorities of Botswana government, which are poverty reduction and employment creation particularly amongst women and youth, and to increase the productivity of private sector activity. Through our engagement with Department of Community Development on the economic strengthening pilot project, the domains that hold greatest potential for opportunities for impactful Volunteer interventions include entrepreneurship behaviors, basic business skills, Income Generating Activity (IGA) and personal money management skills, and digital literacy. Our partners are the Ministry of Local Government – Department of Social Development and Civil Society Organizations (Non-governmental Organizations and Community Based Organizations).

Project goal

Communities achieve economic growth and security in a way that addresses existing economic inequities.

Project objectives

The primary goal of their work is strengthening individuals’ (especially youth and women) livelihoods and management of their small-scale economic activities.

Volunteers collaborate with their local counterparts to help communities achieve economic growth and security in a way that addresses existing economic inequities. The Volunteers work with local existing and aspiring entrepreneurs, cooperatives, community organizations, local government entities focused on community development, to provide training and one-on-one guidance on basic business skills, entrepreneurship, personal money management and digital literacy

Education

The Peace Corps Botswana Education Program, Literacy for LifeSkills, supports literacy development and life skills education in primary schools across the country. Peace Corps Botswana proudly partners with the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education to support national education priorities and improve literacy outcomes for learners. Volunteers are strategically placed in primary schools and work hand in hand with Batswana teachers, school leadership, and communities to enhance the quality of education and foster positive learning

Project goal

Students increase reading, writing, and life skills to become civically engaged adults.

Project objectives

• Increase students’ literacy skills.
• Strengthen students’ life skills.
• Strengthen and support counterpart teaching capacity.
• Increase access to teaching and learning materials

Volunteers work closely with Languages teachers to co-teach literacy lessons, strengthen reading and writing competencies, and promote effective teaching practices that enhance student learning outcomes. In addition to classroom support, Volunteers facilitate life skills programs that focus on leadership, decision-making, and positive behavior development to help students make informed choices and build resilience. These programs contribute to creating safe and supportive school environments that encourage holistic child development and civic engagement. Volunteers also implement after-school and out-of-classroom interventions such as spelling bees, library support activities, reading clubs, and other enrichment initiatives that increase students’ exposure to literacy opportunities. They work with schools to improve access to teaching and learning materials for both students and teachers, thereby strengthening the overall literacy ecosystem within the school community.

Through peer observation, modeling, and collaborative planning, Volunteers enhance teachers’ instructional capacity, particularly in literacy instruction. They may also support digital literacy by co-teaching students or co-training teachers in the use of technology to support learning where resources allow.