Bantwana Initiative for AIDS ORPHANS & Vulnerable children

Our Programs

SwazilandBantwana Initiative Swaziland Graphic

The Kingdom of Swaziland has the highest estimated adult HIV prevalence in the world—approximately 26% (UNAIDS 2007) in a population of just over one million people. Swaziland not only faces the mammoth task of reversing the growth of the epidemic, but must also mitigate its impact on the nation's children. More than 160,000 children are estimated to be orphaned, and more than a third of all children are considered vulnerable.

Adolescents make up a high percentage of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in Swaziland. Currently adolescent OVC represent a forgotten group as most programs focus on primary school-aged children. Schools are not well equipped to effectively manage the specific needs and challenges of adolescent OVC.

The Bantwana Schools Integrated Program (BSIP) is a ground-breaking program that uses schools and school committees as nodes of intervention to provide a range of comprehensive services for OVC.

BSIP is dedicated to building a model of integrated care and support that mobilizes human and material resources to keep children in school and provide them with the basic services they need.

Bantwana Initiative Swaziland Graphic

BSIP reaches more than 4,200 children in 10 schools in the arid Lubombo region with health, nutrition, psychosocial, and educational support, and livelihoods development services. Bantwana provides this support in collaboration with four local partners, with a focus on mobilizing local communities to support OVC.