In 2006, World Education senior staff member Gill Garb noticed the gap in support for HIV-affected orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in sub-Saharan Africa. Having worked for 10 years with local communities as they struggled to cope with the devastating effects of the HIV epidemic, she knew that funding was not reaching the individuals and groups working on the frontlines of care to help this population.
Inspired by committed local groups, Gill worked closely with colleagues in Africa who shared her vision to launch The Bantwana Initiative. Bantwana (“our children” in Zulu/IsiNdebele) aimed to bolster grassroots efforts to support OVC through management and technical training, with a focus on the provision of holistic, comprehensive care.
Since 2006, Bantwana has pursued its mission to improve the well-being of children and their caregivers and families affected by HIV and AIDS and poverty. Bantwana has reached more than 600,000 children and their families annually in seven African countries with comprehensive care that includes HIV-sensitive case management, education, protection, and economic strengthening.
In alignment with Bantwana’s founding vision and consistent efforts to support locally led solutions, three Bantwana country teams–Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Uganda–evolved into independent local organizations in 2018, 2021, and 2023 respectively. These shifts, led by long-time in-country Bantwana experts, were responses to the changing needs and contexts of each country. The three organizations, equipped with deep expertise and contextual knowledge and strong relationships with local governments and communities, have made significant contributions to the health and well-being of the region.
They support a broad range of integrated education, health, and social protection services while strengthening government systems and community structures that benefit OVC. They also build the capacity of local organizations to receive funding directly from the U.S. Agency for International Development.
World Education also implemented Bantwana programs in Malawi and Mozambique, where they continue under the World Education division of JSI, while multiyear programs in Tanzania and Zambia have ended.
Over the years, Bantwana teams have shared resources and knowledge to enhance programming and supported the development and expansion of promising and proven models across the region. In 2024, Bantwana Eswatini, Bantwana Zimbabwe, and Bantwana Initiative Uganda solidified decades of collaboration with the launch of the Bantwana Regional Network. This network maintains the Bantwana mission, brand, and presence in sub-Saharan Africa while broadening its impact throughout the region. The network will continue to support children, youth, and their communities by increasing collaboration to become even more responsive to changing needs.
World Education and The Bantwana Initiative have moved forward separately while maintaining a lasting relationship. Each continues to build on a shared legacy of localized, effective programming for integrated youth development, women’s economic empowerment, and early childhood development.
