Botswana has one of the highest rates of infection in the world today with one in four people in its sparse population estimated to be HIV positive. However, as Africa's longest multi-party democracy with huge but unequally distributed diamond wealth, it has also pioneered free access to anti-retroviral drugs, ensuring that young people who are HIV+ have a real chance for a future.
HOPEHIV began working in Botswana in 2002 and pioneered a new organisation (SAPSSI) working collaboratively with local churches to train volunteers and set up Adventure Camps and Kids' Clubs across Gaborone. SAPPSI quickly gained an excellent reputation for providing emotional and social support for orphaned children traumatised by grief. In 2004, it was invited by UNICEF to train other organisations across Botswana in these techniques, reaching thousands of young orphans. In 2006 HOPEHIV began to deliver the GoLD peer education program into Gaborone schools in partnership with SAPSSI. In 2007, three new partners were taken on to expand the program across Botswana.
