Childline Botswana is a non-profit, non-governmental organization. This organization was founded in 1990, by Doreen Khama and Fay Smith, as a response to the escalating numbers of child abuse. It is established as a trust fund with a Board of Trustees comprising of interested individuals in the community. In 1991, Childline Botswana was officially opened. By then it was run by trained volunteers until in 1994 when full time staff members were employed. In 1998, Childline received funding from SIDA through the Ministry of Local Government, Lands and Housing and ran a one-year comprehensive and intense education program.

Vision

Childline’s vision is to have a nation that is child friendly: that respects children’s rights and does not abuse its children by the year 2015.

Mission

Childline Botswana’s mission is primarily to help abused children. Childline Botswana also seeks to address other related child welfare issues through nurturing and intervention strategies like education, counselling, casework and alternative care programmes. In carrying out its mission, Childline Botswana will strive to adhere to the following principles:

• Fairness in resolving cases
   
• Botho (humility) in customer service
   
• Best interest of the child in all its undertakings
   
• Commitment of staff and Board to Childline and its activities
   
• Botlhaga (initiative) in undertaking duties.

Objectives

The objectives of Childline Botswana are:

• To provide emergency services for all children in need. 
   
• To help parents/caregivers who are experiencing difficulties with their children, who may have abused them or fear they will abuse them. 
   
• To help parents/adults who may have been abused themselves as children. 
   
• To give concerned members of the public an opportunity to report cases of suspected child abuse. 
   
• To be a referral source for professionals e.g. Social welfare officers, teachers, medical doctors, social workers, police officers and other NGOs. 
   
• To educate the public on child abuse and children’s rights. 
   
• To lobby and advocate for children’s rights.

Location

Gaborone, Botswana