A baseline study on psychosocial support of orphans and vulnerable children in two villages in Botswana

Abstract

This report provides a baseline study on psychosocial support of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in two villages in Botswana and forms part of a series of reports that examine the work undertaken as part of the Kellogg OVC Intervention Project from 2002 to 2005. The general aim of the project is to assist families and households to better cope with the increased burden of care for OVC. The purpose of this particular baseline psychosocial survey (PSS) was to gather data to facilitate the introduction and evaluation of the effectiveness of orphan care intervention programmes for strengthening community participation and empowerment of OVC in two villages in Botswana. This information will be used in evaluating the effectiveness of the new OVC interventions that will be implemented in the two villages in Botswana as part of the overall OVC project.

In 2002, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) was commissioned by the WK Kellogg Foundation to develop and implement a five-year intervention project focusing on orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in southern Africa. In collaboration with several partner organisations, the project currently focuses on how children, families and communities in Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe are coping with the impact of HIV/AIDS. The aim of the project is to develop models of best practice so as to enhance and improve support structures for OVC in the southern African region as a whole.