If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
– African Proverb
By 2005, Bantwana’s founder, Gill Garb, had spent more than a decade working in sub-Saharan Africa with communities struggling to cope with the devastating effects of HIV. Despite an initial outpouring of donor funding for the millions of HIV-affected orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) across Africa, little of this support was reaching the communities and families who shouldered the greatest burden and costs.
Inspired by passionate, committed local groups and individuals on the frontlines of the HIV epidemic, and working closely with colleagues in Africa who shared her vision, Gill conceived the Bantwana Initiative (“Our Children” in Zulu) as a way to bolster existing grassroots efforts through management and technical training, with a focus on holistic, comprehensive care.
Our Vision
We envision a world where all children are healthy, secure, and can reach their full potential.
We reach over 600,000 people across six countries in sub-Saharan Africa
We work with more than 90 local organizations, clinics, and local and national governments in Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Putting children and caregivers first
Our evidence-based, socio-ecological model of comprehensive care ensures that children and their caregivers have access to the full range of support they need to grow and improve their overall wellbeing. We engage at all levels—working in close partnership with children and youth, families, communities, civil-society organizations, private sector, and governments—to promote transformative, lasting change.
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