Botswana Council of Churches
Gaborone, Botswana

The Botswana Council of Churches is a longstanding partner of Global Ministries.  It was founded in 1966 and has 36 member churches and organizations. Botswana is located in southern Africa. The land has rolling hills but is predominantly flat with the Okayango Delta and Kalahari Desert. The country has periodic droughts, seasonal winds, and limited fresh water resources. 

Botswana has made a great deal of economic progress in its 36 years of independence, although not everyone has benefited. Many people suffer from poverty, malnutrition, hunger, and high unemployment.  The HIV/AIDS infection rates in Botswana are some of the highest in the world and HIV/AIDS is Botswana's greatest problem, causing problems in the distribution of population with many orphans and infected children disenfranchised. Wealth is unequally distributed, with women, the elderly, and rural inhabitants being the most disadvantaged.  Children growing up in these circumstances are prone to malnutrition, deprivation, teenage pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, suicide attempts, substance abuse, and crime.  The other concern is the flood of refugees from neighboring countries that adds to poverty-related problems.

The Mabogo Dinku Advice Centre was established in 2001and is one of the newest projects of the Botswana Christian Council.  This program is filling a definite need within the country.  Many people are reluctant to seek assistance from government agencies and other organizations because of cost, discrimination, among other reasons.  The Mabogo Dinku Advice Centre offers a caring environment that reflects Christian values and attitudes to all people who come for help with their problems.  Their mission is committed to alleviating the social, economic, and emotional hardships of disadvantaged people with their dignity restored.  The Mabogo Dinku Advice Centre is guided by Christian principles of equality, justice, love, human dignity, empathy, and confidentiality. 

Mabogo Dinku Advice Centre serves as a link between the disadvantaged and other social services agencies.  They help people with HIV/AIDS-related issues, unemployment, legal matters, and poverty-related issues.  They organize events and sharing sessions to educate the general public on issues that people face.  They offer resources and serve as an information center on social services offered in Botswana.  They also are working toward influencing power structures and policies on behalf of the disadvantaged.  To do this they train volunteers as listeners, counselors, legal aides, and business advisers.  They also have local ministers and professionals for the center. 

Skills development is a major area of need, especially with unemployed youth, women, and people living in rural areas.  The center is also in need of a permanent home. The portable office currently being used cannot be continued.  Mabogo Dinku has applied for a site and funds will be needed to build a center on this land.  Fund raising projects have began and the center would also like to establish self-help projects which would provide skills training and jobs for the unemployed as well as help to sustain the center.  To continue this much needed ministry, funding is greatly needed. Global Ministries seeks special contributions for this effort.