News Archives - BOFWA

Gender assessment training

Bernard Mokeniywa — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 08:08:44 +0000

On the 30 th January to 3 rd February 2023, there was a Gender assessment training held at Kenya, Nairobi for the IPPF Member Associations (RHU and ABUBEF) who were implementing the Wish project. Even though BOFWA is not part of the WISH programme, Hiroko Takasawa (Japan Trust Fund Manager) made it possible for the team to attend the training. The BOFWA team: Ms Una Ngwenya , Neo Monare and Gosego Basiamisi attended the training. The purpose of the training was to gain knowledge and skill on how to incorporate gender into BOFWA programs and policies. The training came at the right time when the organization is transforming its programming to be gender sensitive. Training was mainly focused on the IPPF gender equality tool which was facilitated by Uda Deshapriya (consultant), Samia Khatun and Seri Wedoh. BOFWA benefited from the training as the organization will engage in a self- reflection of its status, services and programs with relation to gender equality.

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SADC Project Launch

BOFWA — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 08:01:10 +0000

http://bofwa.org.bw/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/bofwa-on-btv.mp4

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Comprehensive Condom Programming

BOFWA — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 12:38:09 +0000

BOFWA represented by Mrs Nene Mmoloke (Nurse midwife) was among the various stakeholdersthat gathered for the first ever National Stakeholders meeting on Comprehensive Condom Programming in four years, hosted by UNFPA Botswana and NAHPA to discuss strategies to bring back condoms to the center stage of prevention strategies for HIV,STIs and unintended pregnancies in this Decade of Action.#Letscondommunicate

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BOFWA Join Hands With The Media In a Fight Against Gender Based Violence

BOFWA — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 13:09:45 +0000

Khumoetsile Magonare: Mmegi FreelancerThe Botswana Family Welfare Association (BOFWA) is working hand in hand with the media in mapping a wayfoward in the fight to promote sexual reproductive health information and fight against gender based violence.The BOFWA Programmes Manager Ms Senzeni Makhwaje mentioned that the forced marriages, forced abortions, rape and assault are the most common gender based violence in Botswana. She said that BOFWA broke the ground for key providers of education in reproductive health of women especially young women. In addition to this, the young generation is not knowledgeable about issues of HIV/AIDS. They also offer HIV testing as well as counseling.BOFWA’s mandate is to make all the services they offer like family planning (contraceptives and counseling), HIV/AIDS counseling are among the best to be accessible to all the young people in Botswana. The youth are mobilized to be part of these programs and services which are meant for them in curbing the unwanted pregnancies and HIV infection.“Women abuse can be in form of body shaming, women shaming in their sense of style as well”, said Makhwaje.

Makhwaje also mentioned that the sexual reproductive health is a right of a woman and that discrimination of sex workers leads to inadequacy in screening and access to condom use and collection. She also lamented that the unsafe abortion cases put the lives of Batswana in danger as proved by the 15% that die during childbirth due to unsafe abortion practices.

There are various youth programmes that give young people a platform to exercise their rights and responsibilities in the decision making programmes. These young people register as volunteers and are given training in being the Ambassadors of change.

In one of the African incidents a journalist cum activist, Mark mentioned that teenage pregnancy is high in Kenya and most of the school girl’s breastfed during exam time. “In one of the schools of 57 pupils, 34 are girls and 23 are boys and about 24 girls were having exams and breastfeeding too, “said Mark.

The Kenyan activist also mentioned that as a tool to fight gender based violence, the initiative called “Right by Her”, has been implemented to stand against the sexual abuse of women; as most cases are of rape, forced intercourse or issues of incest and early marriages. He also mentioned that the main idea of the “Right by Her” movement is to promote the implementation of the gender and sexual reproductive health policies in African countries to protect a girl child.

Therefore the media especially print journalism has been urged to join the”’ movement in writing more about these issues faced by African women so that people can be aware and be able to do activism in empowering a girl child. The Right by Her movement also prompts men to be supportive and protective of a girl child rather than causing pain to their lives.

The information should be clear in pamphlets especially reaching out to young people and more workshops and training should be done in partnership with the media to accelerate the change in gender based violence said Sunday Standard reporter Ruth.

As quoted in an African woman report Gender-based violence against women refers to all the acts perpetrated against women which cause or could cause them physical, sexual, psychological, and economic harm, including the threat to take such acts; or to undertake the imposition of arbitrary restrictions on or deprivation of fundamental freedoms in private or public life in peace time and during situations of armed conflicts or of war’, and concerns ‘violence that is directed against women because she is a woman or that affects women while Sexual violence means ‘any non-consensual sexual act, a threat or attempt to perform such an act, or compelling someone else to perform such an act on a third person. These acts are considered as non-consensual when they involve violence, the threat of violence, or coercion. Coercion can be the result of psychological pressure, undue influence, detention, abuse of power or someone taking advantage of a coercive environment, or the inability of an individual to freely consent. This definition must be applied irrespective of the sex or gender of the victim and the perpetrator, and of the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator.

In conclusion African countries have been prompted to reform laws that criminalize exposure, non-disclosure and/or willful transmission of HIV, in recognition of the rights of people living with HIV to non-discrimination. In addition the African countries should ensure full, free and informed consent in access to SRH services and information, so that women and girls cannot be denied SRH services nor forced to take a specific treatment, based on either mandatory HIV testing or HIV positive in standing Right By Her.

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BOFWA Took Part at The Botswana Youth Business Expo 2019

BOFWA — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 12:53:14 +0000

The youth business expo hosted by Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development under the theme “Brand it, market it, Win it”.

The expo was brought forward to encourage the young entrepreneurs to embrace good imaging of a business. The youth expo accords the youth an opportunity to network with potential buyers of their products and services, this also assist them to learn emerging technologies and trends so as to expand their market base.

The youth business expo is a continuation of the Ministry’s efforts to promote youth entrepreneurship and engagement in the socio economic development of the country as envisaged in the National Youth Policy.

The Ministry engaged various partners and stakeholders and amongst them was BOFWA. BOFWA brought to the expo a full package of its sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Majority of the youth visited the BOFWA stall to receive the SRHR services of choice.

SERVICES OFFERED

BOFWA offered the following services during the business expo for six days;

· On site syphilis rapid test
· HIV testing and counselling
· STI screening and treatment
· Onsite chlamydia testing
· BP and weight
· Family planning counselling
· Contraception
· Breast and cervical cancer screening
· SRHR education

The organization will continue to put more effort to provision of services to its target population of adolescents and young people.

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Tea With The First Lady

BOFWA — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 20:07:22 +0000

It was an honour for BOFWA to receive an invitation to have tea with the first lady Mrs Masisi this year.

What was more humbling was not only the reception, but also the enjoyable conversation over a variety of snacks at her magnificent house. This gave BOFWA a chance to introduce herself as an affiliate of IPPF with the mandate of providing Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights services to the adolescents and young, poor, marginalised and left-out communities in Botswana.

It was clarified that being the only member association of IPPF in Botswana, by extension BOFWA is a member of Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA), and further to present BOFWA’s request to mme mma Masisi to present BOFWA-Botswana at the organisation, a position that becomes rightfully hers by virtue of being the first lady.

It will be very remiss of me not to mention that BOFWA, due to the positive reception and enthusiasm evident from how Mrs Masisi and BOFWA delegates got on like a house on fire, right-away embarked upon the process necessary to engage and have the first lady on board.

We remain optimistic that a lot of good shall follow.It was a delight to see how light moments were shared: the air of enthusiasm that was palpable. BOFWA remains optimistic at the prospects of a beautiful fulfilling relationship. This can only be attributed to how she found time to create a great atmosphere despite her everyday pressures, a kindness BOFWA will forever appreciate.

The BOFWA team that comprised of Mr Keitseope Nthomang (BOFWA President) in a checked jacket and maroon tie, Ms Naomi Seboni (Former IPPF president) in a pink suit, Ms Una Ngwenya (Chief Executive office)in a charcoal suit, Mr Peter Outlule (Finance Head) in a charcoal suit and pink shirt, and Ms Precious Basutli (Volunteer Coordinator) in a black suit and pink shirt, had an opportunity to even take a few pictures with the first lady (in a black and white dress and a white scuff) in the well maintained gorgeous garden.

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The Youth Connect Initiative

BOFWA — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 12:38:58 +0000

The youth connect initiative is a social media management and campaign execution were the Youth Action movement (YAM) team of BOFWA run the Youth Connect Campaign with the following Global Objective: To increase comprehensive knowledge on HIV and Sexuality Education among the youth (10-24)

To increase demand and utilization of Comprehensive Sexuality education among youth using innovative methodologies

To enhance the visibility of BOFWA as an SRHR service provider in Botswana using social media among the youth.

To recruit more young people to join the movement (Join the Movement, Protect the future)

The project is expected to reach a high number of young people with empowering SRHR information massages hence contributingtowards one of the key Youth Connect Initiative objectives.Through the various social media activities, (Website, Facebook, twitter and WhatsApp,)YAM Botswana shall support the visibility of both IPPFARO and BOFWA.BOFWA’s team of Youth Action Movement (YAM) members set out to disseminate information on the services offered at BOFWA branches as well as increase the visibility of the Association among youth people.

This was done through education on sexual rights for young people, family planning commodities available, sharing the BOFWA programme and using promotional merchandise to attract young people. Youth Action Movement positioned themselves strategically by setting up their stalls in busy areas like the malls and schools. On the other hand the YAM team tasked itself with recruiting new members into the movement which, YAM targeting young people aged 18 – 24 years.

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Cash Cheque Donation From GIA

BOFWA — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 12:57:42 +0000

In August 2018, Germinology Institute of America (GIA) identified Botswana Family Welfare Association (BOFWA) as one of their beneficiaries of the income generated from the Diacore Gaborone Marathon.BOFWA was awarded a Cash Cheque of P12, 679.59 together with Women against Rape (WAR) Maun andCentral Association of the blind and Disabled. GIA stated that they have been the sponsors of this sportingactivity and would love to engage BOFWA to be a key actor during its annual sponsored event and become BOFWA’s

resource mobilization partner to assist in achieving the goal of service access by adolescents and young people.

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Youth Action Movement Student Fair

BOFWA — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 13:13:27 +0000

BOFWA partnered with Young tutors Botswana (YTB) and conducted a demand creation activity which took place on the 21st July 2018.

This initiative was implemented to create demand and bring awareness to the targeted population on both SRHR and academic empowerment initiatives available within their communities. Young people were brought on board to discuss their academic and health needs that addressed issues faced by young people as they transition from youth to adulthood. Young people face various challenges during this transition and the major ones being academic and economic growth and sexual reproductive health related issues. This will increase chances for young people to become employable due to their educational capacities and also lead a healthy lifestyle with an anticipated increase in life expectancy.

During this demand creation initiatives young people were given the liberty to explore BOFWA services and be brought into awareness to comprehensive sexuality education which when subsequently administered will increase knowledge levels among young people thus increasing access to health care services. Young people will become more aware of their sexual health needs and rights and also create a system of dissemination of information to other young people through leadership empowerment approach.

BOFWA as the host had an open day clinic at this event. Young people, Parents and Partners were able to receive knowledge on BOFWA services and also utilise the clinical services. The main components of BOFWA service provision was under the following 3 pillars

Education-

Comprehensive sexuality education is the key approach in increasing knowledge levels of SRHR among young people.

CSE also is used to increase access to services by young people as young people will be aware of their sexual needs.

During this activity the product was given out to young people aged 10 -24 years old with a high expectancy of registering

more than 40% of the attendees to enrol into structured CSE sessions which are done on weekly basis for at least 40 minutes per session. BOFWA will ensure continuity of CSE structured sessions either through the static facility or weekly outreach to youth organizations or institutes.

Advocacy– BOFWA sold a leadership and governance programme in which it seeks young people aged 10-24 to join and be members of BOFWA’s Youth Action movement (YAM). This is a leadership programme that capacitates young people to became leaders and be in the forefront of sexual Reproductive Health. These will be trained as international youth ambassadors who will be able to represent youth health issues in youth forums both nationally and internationally. These young people are registered as members of BOFWA and they are given capacity and training on youth SRHR programmes. During the activity mobilization and sensitization was provided and allowance to new recruitment was also given.

Clinical Service Provision-BOFWA provided an open space for clinical services and facility based services. Young people were able to receive education on BOFWA services, they will then be able to access services at both open space and facility based areas.

Services provided included:

• Condom education, demonstration and distribution

•STI screening and treatment

• HIV counselling and Testing

• Breast cancer screening

• BMI

• Implant education and booking for insertion

• General counselling

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Volunteers are Policy Makers

BOFWA — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 12:45:50 +0000

BOFWA is a nationally recognized leader in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) service provision that ensures reproductive health including Family Planning (FP) as a human right to all individuals and families.It is led by volunteers as policy makers. Many young people work with the organization at different BOFWA centers. They come from all kinds of backgrounds. Most have been directly affected by sexual and reproductive health and rights issues. Many are part of the most marginalized communities we seek to reach. All are passionately committed to BOFWA’s vision and to advancing BOFWA’s mission. You can visit our centers to get our volunteers’ inspirational stories and how they’re helping communities all over the country. If you are interested in volunteering, approach any of the BOFWA centers.

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