U.S. Embassy donates towards gender-based violence fight in Botswana
Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) - The US Ambassador to Botswana, Craig Cloud, has presented money and gifts to the Botswana Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Support Centre (BGBVC) donated by the staff of the Embassy.
According to the U.S. Embassy Information Specialist, Ephraim Keoreng, the U.S. Government funds the Centre through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
It is to provide psychosocial support, post-Gender-Based Violence (GBV) clinical services, HIV services, and community mobilizations to create awareness of the services provided and reduce gender-based violence.
The Botswana Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Support Centre is a non-governmental organization registered in Botswana to provide support and care to women, men, girls, and boys experiencing and affected by gender-based violence.
The Centre provides a crucial link from the community, where violence happens, to clinical services and support for survivors. The organization also runs a shelter to support post-GBV clients who find it unsafe to return home.
As part of their annual Health Fair, staff of the U.S. Embassy donated clothing, toys, household equipment, toiletries, food, and other items for use by the Centre and its shelter.
Ambassador Cloud handed over the donations while wishing the staff happy holidays and commending the Centre for its crucial role in the community to protect survivors and give them a chance to recover.
Since 2016, through USAID’s partner Family Health International 360, the Centre has been given more than US$500,000 by the U.S. Government to carry out its work, including providing a package of services to 3,812 survivors of gender-based violence.
-0- PANA MS/MA 20Dec2019
