Stepping Stones International (SSI) is a lifeline for Botswana's most vulnerable youth (ages 12-25), providing comprehensive programs that stimulate resilience, strengthen families, and create opportunities for self-sufficiency. "Reboot" provides 500 at risk youth in Goodhope, a rural area of Botswana, with services including counselling, peer mentoring, health and HIV prevention and managing abusive situations. These services were jeopardized under the abrupt termination of USAID funding.
Botswana faces a hidden crisis: 44% youth unemployment fuels poverty, depression, and rising suicide rates, especially among young women. HIV prevalence in young women (21.1%) is nearly double men's (11.8%), and gender-based violence is escalating. Tumisang, 16, a gender-based violence survivor, found hope through SSI's trauma counselling. Without USAID funding Tumisang won't have access to SSI's HIV/AIDS and mental health programs Suicide, teen pregnancy, and HIV rates in Goodhope will rise.
SSI's psychosocial support (PSS) offers evidenced-based and client-centered interventions to children/youth and families. The model integrates counseling and emergency mental health support for trauma/depression, health services, mentoring through safe spaces for AGYW (HIV prevention, GBV discussions), family interventions (Parenting for Lifelong Health) and economic empowerment. These interventions integrate individualized care and community engagement for sustainable impact.
Rebooting SSI's services in Good Hope will mitigate trauma, reduce school dropouts, prevent GBV, and foster resilient youth leaders. Impact includes: improving mental health for 500+ youth annually, empowering AGYW to combat GBV, reducing dropouts through emotional/academic support, strengthening families to curb neglect/abuse, and equipping youth with financial literacy to break poverty cycles. Immediate funding prevents service collapse, ensuring a stable future for vulnerable youth.
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