www.mothersforall.org

 

Botswana is among the world's most AIDS-ravaged countries. Around a quarter of the population is HIV positive, and although many of those infected now have access to antiretroviral drugs, the loss of life has already been immense. As in most countries, children are the greatest casualties: in a nation of fewer than two million people, over 100,000 children are thought to have lost one or both parents as a result of AIDS; some are HIV positive themselves. 

 

Most of those who try to fill the void left by parents are members of the children’s extended family or community; most are women; most have very little income. With the unstable financial situation of many caregivers, children stand to be passed from one to another – or left to fend for themselves altogether. In addition to the obvious threats to health and education, this jeopardises the child’s chance of growing up with one stable attachment figure – known to be crucial to psychological wellbeing, and helping caregivers has repeatedly been shown to be the most sustainable and effective means of helping the children.

With this intent, Mothers For All, a not-for-profit organisation - founded by several of those who appear in the book - will run skills training and income generation schemes for the caregivers of Botswana's children affected or infected by AIDS. After several months of consultation with caregivers, individuals involved in AIDS-related programmes in Botswana and South Africa, and Southern African art and craft experts, it has been decided that Mothers for All’s initial project will focus on teaching caregivers the art of paper bead-making, producing beautiful jewelry and book marks, using recycled materials wherever possible. Locations identified for the initial workshops include Selebi-Phikwe, Serowe, Nata Village and Gaborone.

  

Some of the proceeds from the sale of Twenty Chickens for a Saddle are being used to fund the start-up costs. Ultimately, however, the organisation aims to become self-sustaining; a percentage of each sale reinvested into the programme. A prototype product is currently being designed, and the organisation hopes to sell the first products made by caregivers in early 2008 - each purchase helping to provide a mother for all.