22 Aug 2024

Social workers from government departments and various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) met in Maun for a symposium featuring an American renowned child welfare specialist, Ms Ruby Johnston who will train them on  family-based care; seeking permanency and well-being for children in institutional care.

Organised by Love Botswana Outreach Mission in Maun, the three-day event  attracted 50 social workers who had placed children with Lorato House Rescue Centre. The centre caters for children aged 0-5 years who were either abandoned, orphaned or in need of protection as well as children living with disabilities aged 0-10 years.

The symposium is expected to focus on  best practices for long-term care  for orphans and vulnerable children.

Speaking during the official opening of the symposium on Monday,  executive director for Love Botswana Outreach Mission, Dr Jana Lackey said Lorato House had was faced with challenges  of  children overstay. She said she was optomistic  that Ms Johnston would discuss alternatives that promoted permanency and well-being of children in need of protection.

Lorato house, she said was established in response to children living in hospitals for various reasons stating that the centre was not a permanent  facility or orphanage but was meant to provide an emergency intervention.

Dr Lackey said some families were willing to adopt but it was impossible because of long processes as some children were brought through by court order.

She acknowledged that Ms Johnston together with her husband co-founded Global Capacity Building Network, an international training and consulting organisation.

She added that they had also established several international organisations in over 40 countries dedicated to supporting vulnerable, and orphaned children.

Ms Johnston has been advocating for children to be placed in a family environments. She was of the view that no child should grow in an institution.

The symposium, she said would assist social workers in their daily work stating that that social workers were resourceful persons in promoting protection of children.

“Social workers are champions because they offer an important work in promoting the well-being of human beings as well as ensuring child protection and response within the wider social service system even though they are overwhelmed because they deal with people’s needs,” added Dr Lackey.

Ms Dorcas Mogotsinyane, a senior social worker from Love Botswana, stated that the symposium would provide participants with an opportunity to discuss potential permanent solutions for children living in institutions.

She emphasised that children should not grow up in institutions but rather in a nurturing environment they could call home. Currently, there are 49 children at Lorato House from various districts, with Maun having the highest number of residents.

Ms Mogotsinyane explained that the house is dedicated to instilling love and hope in the children. “We have caregivers available 24/7 to take care of the kids, as some require medical attention,” she noted.

She expressed gratitude for the support from the government and various organisations that allowed them to deliver excellent services.

In her remarks, Ms Johnston highlighted her passion for social work, emphasising the importance of understanding trauma and its impact on children. She noted that the symposium would aid social workers in developing strategies to ensure that all children reach their God-given potential while safeguarding their rights to safety, permanency, and well-being, all within the context of a loving family.

Ms Johnston pointed out that in Botswana, there was still much to be done to empower social workers to advocate for strengthening families and prioritising the best interests of children. She stressed that during family crises, it is the children who suffer the most.

“Together, we can make a difference by helping families uphold children’s rights and identifying adoptive families. We should focus on strengthening alternative family-based care so that children who cannot live with their biological families can still experience the love and support of kinship, foster, or adoptive families,” she said. ENDS