The Metlha ya Bofelo Foundation is a non profit voluntary organization which is committed to provide care and support to orphans and vulnerable children so they may have a better and more secure future.

The Foundation has started in August 2010 and is located near Kasane, Botswana (Africa). It exists to establish a safe haven where orphans and vulnerable children of the Chobe region, who do not have families to provide for them, can come for after-school care and support.

The Chobe Community has one of the highest HIV infection rates in Central Africa. High levels of prostitution along the Kazungula border between Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe (where trans-Africa trucks often have to wait for days to complete border formalities) contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS in the region.

Women and children are the most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Established factors leading to the spread of the virus are: poverty, unemployment, gender inequalities, communication barriers between youth and elders on sexual matters, drugs and substance abuse.

The Foundation’s Afterschool Programme aims to provide education on such issues, as well as food and loving care.

Short Status Update from Daily Life in the Camp

At the moment, there are 35-40 children who come every day after school, get a good lunch, get help with homework and get time to be children. A lighter meal is being served before the children go back to their caretakers or "homes".

The children are the losers in the HIV/AIDS situation, and it is estimated that more than 300 children in the small Chobe community are affected by the pandemic. Unfortunately, Botswana is not geared to look after these vulnerable children. However, the Foundation works together with the social system and the school and cannot take kids from the streets. They have to be registered by the social worker before they can come to us. The system is a bit slow but the volunteer team is doing a lot of pushing to get the children in need identified. Nobody said it should be easy - but it is worth while the effort.

Update (December 2011) 

"...We have our annual general meeting next week and I am happy to say that we are doing well. The activities with the children have improved in quality, we are getting better in contacting the homes and follow up on children who need more attention, and  yes, all children are growing well, have less diseases and are showing signs of better ability in socialising.

The last issue is our main concern and we have started a project, Children's Voices, Kazungula" which we hope can help us. The aim of the project is to facilitate communication between the children and the adult around them on the children's initiative. In Botswana the children are seen but not heard and we hope to make a difference so our children will be seen and heard and the adult better understand how the children think and feel about their situation as orphans and living in an environmet of HIV/AIDS and poverty. The life of the children is not an easy one and many of them are angry , they dont know where to put  the anger and we hope via the Project to find ways to help them.

gain, .... many thanks for the lovely donations which makes it possible for us to feed the children better. Thank you...."

(Anne Marie Melgaard, Chairman MyBF)

Selected Pictures and Quotes

„Thank you, Nico“ (Anne Marie Melgaard, Chairman MyBF)

100% of our donated money will go to the operation of the program described.

Afternoon activity with Efa - our child minder

The Metlha ya Bofelo Foundation provides an After-School Programme for OVC of primary school age. It is run by volunteers and includes, but is not limited to, the following activities:

• Two nutritious meals a day
• Assistance with homework
• Reading skills and library club
• Arts, crafts and culture
• Music, singing and dance
• Sports, outdoor activities and games
• Environmental education
• Indoor and board games
• Outdoor excursions
• Role modeling and life skills
• Health & hygiene
• Introduction to modern technology
• Interaction with schools, local and foreign