#TCOBW'S EDUCATION FUND

Over the last 40 years, Botswana's economy has achieved one of the highest growth rates in the world, with diamonds and mining fueling much of the growth. It is the crown jewel of Africa: economically strong, politically stable, peaceful, with vast natural resources, strong credit ratings, and low crime.

But for all of Botswana's progress and momentum, the country is plagued by one of the highest HIV/AIDS infection rates in the world. The fallout on children has been particularly harsh. As of 2007, nearly 120,000 children had lost one or both parents to AIDS. Today one in five children in Botswana are orphaned.

"The results reflect the poor socioeconomic situation of orphans in the country. Their number, especially in rural areas, is very high (i.e. 15% of all the children in rural areas). On average, 4.2% of the orphaned children of Botswana are household heads. The percentage of child heads of household (including non-orphaned) is greatest in the Central district (37.5%)."https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17450120600973445"