Childline Botswana

Childline Botswana is a Non-Governmental Organization that was registered in Botswana in 1990.The organization serves to offer protection to abused children and members of their families. This is done through the following:

A shelter for abused, abandoned, trafficked and neglected children: The Place of Safety was established in 2004 to offer emergency services for children in need of protection between the ages of 0-5years. The children accommodated are mostly those who were abandoned in hospitals or public places, those whose parents are in prisons and mental hospitals, or child survivors of attempted infanticide. It has a capacity of 20 children but we are currently accommodating 25 children who are waiting to be put into alternative care either adoption, foster care, extended family members or family reintegration.

Face to face child abuse intervention: Social Workers offer counseling and therapy to child abuse victims. This is a walk-in service through which parents or the children themselves can come to Childline Botswana offices to report child abuse. They will then be offered counseling through application of various professional techniques while at the same time the Officer ensures that due process is followed especially with Criminal Justice Process

Crisis Line: Through this service, there is a trained councilor who is always available to offer telephone counselling to children in distress. Also, through this service, members of the public are given an opportunity to anonymously or report suspected cases of child abuse.

Public Education and Information Dissemination on Child abuse, children’s rights and positive parenting: This is done through collaboration with other service providers and by invitation from stakeholders to give presentations on issues of child welfare and children’s rights.