BBM: Neighbors helping Neighbors

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Neighbors helping Neighbors
through
Babelegi Mmogo
(BBM)

Through BABELEGI MMOGO (BBM), Love Botswana Outreach Mission educates and equips volunteers to identify and respond to the specific needs of children. The name is taken from an African saying combining concepts of “carrying another on one’s back” and doing it “together.” BBM was created in 2013 to help develop community advocacy for children. At that time, however, there were not adequate resources to carry the program forward. Through LBOM staff initiative in partnership with and funding from the Government of Botswana, the Babelegi Mmogo Project was “re-envisioned” in 2015. New groups launched throughout the following year. There has been steady interest and expansion of BBM in and around Maun. Currently 15 BBM support groups meet weekly. By the end of 2016, the combined maximum attendance was at around 150 members.

With consistent training about the rights of children under current Botswana law combined with “how-to” instruction for canvasing the neighborhood, these men and women are equipped and making a difference. A few local members recently shared what initially brought them to BBM meetings, what they have learned through the project and how they have seen the program work in their communities. Their stories paint a beautiful picture of the impact of neighbors knowing and helping neighbors through an organized effort of caring and holding one another accountable.

“There were a few ladies who had come from [Love Botswana] and told us about … the Project which is aimed at various situations faced by children: things they go through at home, those who don’t attend school (consistently), children who are abused, ...who don’t have birth certificates, and children who are not allowed to have relationships with … their parents. One of the situations they were talking about when they were sharing about BBM was one I was in myself. I felt that if I joined, I would get good counsel.”

“They came here and told us about BBM and that its objective is to protect and take care of children. We didn’t know that if someone had left their child by themselves … it’s against the law. Now we know that if you are negligent, it’s against the law. Were it not for BBM we would not have known those things.

When we first started, we didn’t know how to go into a person’s yard and start talking to them. But now, through BBM, we have learnt and we can now do that. I can now talk to my neighbors and let them know that children have rights, and what kind of life they should live. Both my neighbor and I should be each other’s watchman. A child has the right to live just like anyone else. ”

“Through one of the BBM workshops I attended … we were encouraged to go into people’s yards, knock, greet, and be humble when going into people’s homes. Even if someone gets angry, we shouldn’t react. Respect and humility, those are things we were taught; to go to people with love.”

THE RESULTS: As individual citizens have “caught the vision” and respond to the need, these groups have begun to impact the residents of Maun and its surrounding communities. Through the life of the project, approximately 200 cases have been reported to the LBOM Social Worker and/or appropriate government agencies for response. Of those children in need of intervention, around 1/3 of them have been served and their cases have been resolved! The others remain pending for various reasons. The highest reported incidences are those of students dropping out of school and truancy, with this also being the lowest percentage of cases resolved. Those situations reported where the child was in danger due to neglect, abuse, or violence see a much higher rate of resolution because of the obvious urgency required.

There has been a direct correlation between the growth of the BBM project and opportunities to advocate for these children. With all these “eyes and ears” in the community, the need to increase the LBOM Social Work team for 2017 was evident. In January, three new Social Work Aides were added to the staff to shorten response time and enhance service. We celebrate the funding from the Botswana Government that has made this a reality!

Continued growth will mean continued need, so as you read the compelling words of these volunteers, we trust you will be touched.

May we challenge you to increase your monthly giving by 33% …. allowing us hope of another 1/3 of reported cases to be resolved due to timely and adequate response.

Thank you for being ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL FACES of NEIGHBORS who help NEIGHBORS around the world!

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