21 Aug 2026

Motherhood Botswana is targeting P450 000 to support about 450 vulnerable children across 15 schools. 

The organisation marks its 11th anniversary with a fundraising drive focused on providing essential school necessities and the initiative forms part of its Adopt-A-School project which targets schools in Kweneng, Kgatleng and Central districts. The funds will go towards buying school shoes, uniforms and other basic clothing needs for children identified as vulnerable. 

Motherhood Botswana founder, Ms Lindiwe Nkomo, told BOPA that this year’s anniversary would be different from previous celebrations, as the organisation had chosen to turn the milestone into an opportunity to give back to communities. 

“This is not simply an 11th anniversary celebration, it is a fundraising mission where every ticket can translate into dignity for a child,” said Ms Nkomo. 

She said Motherhood Botswana had spent the past 11 years responding to the needs of women, children and families, often prioritising community work over celebrating its own achievements.

Assessments conducted at schools have highlighted the extent of the need for basic necessities, particularly school shoes, complete uniforms and appropriate clothing. 

Ms Nkomo said some vulnerable children were forced to use their school uniforms as everyday clothing at home, leaving them without suitable attire when the uniforms became worn out. 

The organisation has already engaged schools including Diphuduhuhu and Medie primary schools, where it identified children in need of assistance. 

Ms Nkomo said Motherhood Botswana physically visited schools to assess their needs and identify vulnerable children, rather than selecting beneficiaries without first understanding their circumstances. 

However, the approach comes with logistical challenges, including the costs of long-distance travel, fuel and accommodation. “We want to reach those children before their circumstances make them feel forgotten,” she said. Since August is Women’s Month, Nkomo said the anniversary also provided an opportunity to reflect on Motherhood Botswana’s wider work with women, children and families, while encouraging communities to take collective responsibility for vulnerable children. She said the organisation’s experience of supporting individual children had demonstrated the need for a larger and more structured intervention. 

The Adopt-A-School Project seeks to build on Motherhood Botswana’s previous efforts by expanding its reach to more schools and children across the three districts. 

For Nkomo, the 11th anniversary is therefore, not simply a celebration of the organisation’s journey, but an opportunity to turn community support into tangible assistance for children facing hardship. ENDS