Bantwana is a Zulu word that means “our children”—and the members of the Bantwana Regional Network envision an Africa where all children are healthy, secure, and can reach their full potential. We seek to foster a community of practice and locally-driven innovation that improves the wellbeing of vulnerable children, youth, and families affected by HIV/AIDS, poverty, and inequity in sub-Saharan Africa.
Bantwana’s history is rooted in the truth of this saying. By joining forces and voices, combining ideas and skills, communities attain broad-based progress that is inclusive of the most vulnerable. And few in this world are more vulnerable than children and youth without caring adults in their lives!
Just a few decades ago, the concept of “orphan” was relatively uncommon in Eastern and Southern Africa. In the countries where Bantwana operates—our countries—the extended family of aunts, uncles, grandparents, or cousins would traditionally step in to “parent” young children who had lost their biological parents or were otherwise in need.
But by the early 2000s, the unsparing HIV/AIDS epidemic had left hundreds of thousands of children—from newborns and toddlers to adolescents and teenagers—without any adult relatives. Already confronting poverty and other inequities, community members did what they could to feed, clothe, and educate these youth, with the minimal resources at their disposal.
The seed of an idea
In 2006, inspired by the passionate, committed individuals and community groups on the frontlines of the HIV epidemic in Uganda, Gill Garb founded the Bantwana Initiative within the larger family of World Education, Inc., where she held a senior position. (An international development NGO with a 70-year history, World Education has since merged with its longtime sister organization, JSI, a renowned public health institution.)
As conceived by Gill and African colleagues who shared her vision—many of whom are still connected to Bantwana today—the initiative would reinforce existing grassroots efforts with needed management and technical skills and access funding to support the provision of holistic, comprehensive, community-based care. Bantwana would build on and help build up existing government approaches and community efforts already in place, not replace or duplicate them. The overriding aim was to support vibrant and viable locally led and governed institutions.
Established in 2006 alongside groups at the frontline of the HIV epidemic, the Bantwana Initiative grew out of World Education, a division of global nonprofit organization JSI.
Our diverse and experienced team works in partnership with communities to develop locally-driven solutions that have lasting impact.
