Starting in 2006, Partners to the World began it’s work in Gaborone, Botswana by partnering with a local church to launch an aggressive educational effort in the public schools with the permission of the Ministry of Education of the Government of Botswana . As a result of a successful pilot program in 2006, this program, known as Face the Nation, was expanded to all Senior Secondary Schools in 2007.The program uses peer education that trains volunteers from the University of Botswana to address a variety of “Life Skills” with significant emphasis on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. From 2007 - 2010, more than 165,000 Senior Secondary Students have participated in the program and 40,000 have committed themselves to a lifestyle of abstinence until marriage as the best way to avoid infection.
Background - PTW involvement in Botswana
PTW’s Evidence and Values Based Strategy
BOTSWANA
HIV Infection Rate Reduction in Botswana
In the past, efforts to reduce HIV infections depended primarily on promotion of condoms as “safe sex”. This strategy has not been successful in reducing HIV infections in Sub-Sahara Africa
Recent evidence also indicates that behavior change interventions must sustain public attention and interest over several years creating a movement rather than a short campaign.
PTW is working with the Botswana Government to implement Behavior Change interventions focused on risk avoidance (abstinence prior to marriage and faithfulness in marriage) vs. sole dependence on condoms (risk reduction). These
interventions are based on the latest scientific evidence of
their effectiveness in several other Sub-Saharan countries.
FACE THE NATION represents the initial phase of the behavior change effort, focusing on the youth found in the Senior Secondary schools. This program has also served to jump start the second phase of behavior change intervention designed to mobilize the nations churches and FBOs to more aggressively promote behavior change.
Existing workplace programs and materials could be expanded to include emphasis on risk avoidance to supplement current emphasis on risk reduction. Later, this
Schools offer an opportunity to reach a large proportion of Botswana’s youth, the next generation. These young people are not only the future of the country, they are the most likely to be influenced by an aggressive campaign that addresses values and behavior. They are also a “captive audience”.
Churches (and FBO’s) are in the best position to impact values given their implied “moral authority”, but they need well-crafted materials tailored to their mission and unique position. A plan for engaging churches and FBO’s is being developed by the Ministry of Health.
The messages disseminated through societal institutions can be the same basic messages in each venue, but put in a context best suited to each type of participating institution. Schools can package the messages in an educational context embedded in “life skills” lessons, churches and FBO’s can put messages in a faith-based context (e.g. using scriptural support), and messages disseminated in the workplace can be put in an economic context (e.g. cost of illness and retraining due to employee absenteeism and turnover). In local communites, they can be put in a local community or family context.
Media can disseminate key messages widely via radio and TV to reiterate and reinforce the key messages.
Technology can be used to assemble, catalogue, and disseminate supporting materials and information for institutions of all types. Web-based e-learning software can enable higher quality and more rapid development, maintenance, and distribution of information and materials encouraging the desired behavior changes.
effort could be expanded to include messages on a broad range of values presented in an economic context. (e.g. the negative economic impact of theft, corruption, employee absenteeism due to sickness, etc.).
Phased Approach
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
For a detailed historical summary
Mr. and Mrs. Williams greeting former President Festus G. Mogae
