Feb 24, 2021 | News
In February, the French Ambassador to Botswana; H. E. Laurence BEAU paid a visit to our centre in Mochudi for the first time. The purpose of the visit was to learn more about how our French Embassy funded Freedom from Fear project was fairing. The project is our organization’s response to the increasing spike of Gender Based Violence and child abuse incidents in Botswana. Over 67% of women in Botswana have experienced abuse, which is double the global average.
During the national lockdown, brought about by Covid19 in 2020, many more incidents of abuse surfaced, thus urging Stepping Stones International to respond to this national crisis. The Freedom from Fear project increases awareness about Gender Based Violence. It also ensures we have trained personnel responding to cases as they arise and provides psycho-social support to victims of abuse.
As part of the project we also teach sexual reproductive health to adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), which includes making referrals to relevant service providers. Participants that are part of SSI’s after school program also receive private counselling sessions with our psychologist.
During her visit, Ambassador Beau engaged with SSI participants to learn more about how this project has impacted their lives. This project is made possible by the generous support of the Botswana French Embassy.
Watch the sit down interview between the ambassador and our executive director; Ms Lisa Jamu here discussing the project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgMqC02vc5I
Dec 23, 2020 | News, Program Updates
From our humble beginning serving just 30 youth in Mochudi, to reaching over 28,000 youth and children with our programs throughout Botswana, Stepping Stones International has come a long way! As we kick off our 15th year of impact, we reflect back on all that was made possible with help from our stakeholders, donors and community supporters to unlock youth potential – We could not have done it without you. Over these years, we worked tirelessly for our community, continuing to grow and evolve in response to their needs, which shaped our four core services to:
And Wow! We achieved some amazing results! 800 youth have graduated from Find the Leader Within, a game changing program generously supported by the FACET Foundation. Youth develop entrepreneurial, career and leadership skills, that boost their confidence and help them discover their career path, leading many graduates to even launch their own businesses. Through our Literacy Research partnership with the University of Utah Reading Clinic, we discovered that many students in Botswana are reading far below their expected reading level, many as low as 3 to 4 levels below. Knowing that literacy has significant implications on academic performance and overall life outcomes, we trained 340 teachers in our evidence-based Breakthrough to English Literacy program. It has since been implemented in 32 schools (and counting) across the country!
At our centre in Mochudi we serve 120 participants per year through our after-school program, where youth receive academic assistance through tutoring, English literacy interventions, and test preparation. Participants also engage in extra-curricular activities and clubs and participate in SSI’s small business incubator program that has launched 5 successful income generating projects! Through generous support from USAID, we have served over 8,000 clients in our Orphaned & Vulnerable Care program, which focuses on increasing HIV prevention as well as treatment adherence for HIV+ participants. We work to ensure all participants have the opportunity to lead healthy and fulfilling lives no matter their status.
Will you celebrate with us?
It’s simple, SPREAD the word! Help us reach more youth in more places by sharing SSI’s stories of impact. You can do this by sharing our social media posts, writing us a review on Great Non-profits or joining our 15 Years of SSI Facebook group, where you can learn about and participate in our year-long celebration.
Looking forward…
Imagine what we could accomplish over the next 15 years!
There are many ways to help us continue our good work, you can:
- Check out how to setup your own SSI fundraiser
- Donate $15 monthly through JustGiving
- Tell your friends & family about SSI and the incredible youth who inspire us everyday
Thank you all for supporting us on this beautiful journey, we are truly grateful. We look forward to another 15 years unlocking even more youth potential in Botswana and beyond!
Dec 8, 2020 | News
Stepping Stones International is both proud and excited to be one of two beneficiaries from the De Beers ReSet Collective Campaign. The ReSet Collective is comprised of five leading US jewellery designers – Jade Trau, Jennie Kwon, Julez Bryant, Sara Weinstock and Zoë Chicco – who visited Botswana late last year to witness first-hand the positive impact that diamonds discovered by De Beers’ joint venture partnership, Debswana, help create for the people and wildlife of Botswana. Following the trip, each designer created a unique diamond pendant, with four of the five designs incorporating a rough diamond sourced directly from Botswana.
The collection of one-of-a-kind pendants will be auctioned by Sotheby’s in an online sale, open for bidding from 10 to 17 December 2020. Estimates will range from $20,000 to $25,000, with 100 per cent of the hammer price from each piece split equally between two charities: Stepping Stones International in Botswana and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in the US. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to US model Indira Scott who is modelling all the jewellery designs. Indira Scott is an eco-conscious model who is passionate about working and giving back to young girls.
This ReSet Collective Campaign comes just in time for Stepping Stones International’s 15 years anniversary celebration. We started off with just 30 participants in a small room in Mochudi to now reaching over 10, 000 children and youth with our programs in over 13 regions in Botswana. The proceeds from this auction will go towards expanding our Young Mothers Support Group t0 Letlhakane. The program targets expectant girls and young mothers aged 24 and below, equipping them with life skills to sustain themselves and provide for their children. We are grateful to De Beers for choosing our organisation as beneficiaries and are looking forward to continuing unlocking youth potential for 15 more years to come!
More information about the auction can be found on the following links and articles:
https://www.vogue.com/article/de-beers-diamonds-reset-collaboration-female-designers
https://www.elle.com/fashion/a34703668/de-beers-reset-collective/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonydemarco/2020/11/17/indira-scott-models-5-eco-conscience-diamond-jewels-for-charity-auction/?sh=1d7e51ef6bdf
https://www.departures.com/lifestyle/shopping/debeers-reset-collective-diamonds-female-jewelers
https://flaunt.com/content/de-beers-diamond-group-reveals-sustainable-reset-collective-featuring-model-indira-scott
https://www.jckonline.com/editorial-article/de-beers-reset-collective/
https://nuvomagazine.com/style/de-beers-launches-reset
https://www.nationaljeweler.com/fashion/jewelry-auctions/9440-see-the-de-beers-designer-capsule-collection-for-charity
Featured Image courtsey of De Beers ReSet Collective.
Apr 27, 2020 | News, Program Updates
The covid-19 pandemic has had more than just health implications, but economic ones as well worldwide. In Botswana the president declared a 28 days national lockdown (starting 2nd April) where many businesses were closed down and many livelihoods affected. A covid-19 relief fund has been set up by the government and the response has been tremendous. We as Stepping Stones International have also been doing our part, identifying families in need and facilitating donations to help them stay afloat.
In Ghanzi we responded to the call for help made by the District Council that families are hungry and they have not received enough food for the size of the families.
SSI contacted the Angels at Work, a group of generous do-gooders who want to help communities. They started as people wanting to build a second room for a family of 10 in a one bedroom house. The Angels donated a massive 120 food hampers to be distributed to families in a remote area of Botswana, CKGR. Each hamper included starch and vegetables.
We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to the Angels At Work for their amazing contributions and hope the spirit of the Angels spreads throughout the world! Because of them there are 120 less families going to sleep hungry. If you would like to help too, you can donate here.
Apr 14, 2020 | News
It is hard to know what to say during such a challenging time. The COVID-19 pandemic has had global impact, creating a shared sense of fear in all of us.
But if there’s one thing SSI knows a lot about, it’s resilience. We see it every day in the once vulnerable children and youth we serve, as they overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers to become leaders in their community and beyond.
We know their potential is boundless – so we’re still here, more determined than ever, to push through these challenges to be strong for them so they can be strong for themselves, their family and their community.
SSI is continuing our essential work to keep children and families safe in their homes, free from violence. Your support will continue to aid vital outreach and crisis response programs to help SSI provide ongoing safety to our community’s most at-risk children and youth.
This is a vulnerable time for all of us and while we all may be united in our fear, let us also be united in our resilient response to it.
Support us today for a resilient tomorrow.
In solidarity,
Stepping Stones International
