Between 2011 and 2016, PCI implemented an early childhood development project in Botswana that delivered programs to orphans and vulnerable children while integrating gender and HIV/AIDS education. The project established 17 structured playgroups including one in the isolated village of Mmakanke, where over 20 children met weekly for play and basic education led by volunteer mothers. This gave children in remote areas social interaction and cognitive stimulation that was otherwise limited due to long distances between homes. The playgroups aimed to improve children's development and quality of life as part of PCI's strategy to focus on those under age 3, the most critical period for brain growth.

1. Between 2011 and 2016, PCI’s Tsela Kgopo OVC and Gender Project delivered
innovative early childhood development programs to orphans, vulnerable
children and their families while integrating these with gender and HIV/
AIDS learning components.
Approximately 1
out of 4 children in
Botswana lost one or
both of their parents.
Due to poverty, fewer
than 20% of pre-
school aged children
are enrolled in early
education programs.
Policy restrictions,
lack of funding
and qualified
instructors hinders
Early Childhood
Development centers.
The earliest years
of a child’s life have
a long lasting and
powerful influence
upon cognitive
development.
Every week, Mmakanke’s village pre-school gathers over 20 children from the settle-
ment’s 300 families for a half day of playtime. Children, 2 to 6 years old, meet each
other on their terms, play with toys, run about and use the village’s new playground.
While some children learn how to hold a pencil, others play with puzzles in the hards-
crabble ground in the shade of a big tree.The pre-school’s only room is covered with
posters detailing the alphabet, weather and the months in English.
Tuduetso Mounapodi—a mother of two who leads the
children—receives guidance from HopeWorldwide, a
local NGO that partners with the PCI’sTsela Kgopo OVC
and Gender Project. She and other mothers volunteer
their time as community mobilizers in order to give the
children of Mmakanke an opportunity only afforded to a
small percentage of children in Botswana.
Mmakanke is an isolated community, some ten kilome-
ters from the nearest school. Houses are located far
and wide across the semi-desert rangeland. Before the
pre-school, these children typically stayed home with
few chances to speak to people.
The pre-school and structured play group activities form
part of PCI’s Integrated Early Childhood Development
strategy and the project’s overall objective to improve
the quality of life for orphans and vulnerable children.
“The PCI strategy fo-
cuses on OVCs under
three, which is the
most critical period
for brain develop-
ment. These children
are at most risk for
underdeveloped
emotional, social and
language skills”
Tsige Teferi
Chief of Party, Tsela Kgopo
S t i m u l a t i n g t h e L i v e s
o f V u l n e r a b l e C h i l d r e n
E A R LY C H I L D H O O D
D E V E LO P M E N T
Vulnerable children attend
a structured play group in
Mochudi, Botswana.

2. “Since our families are scattered so far, our children have no friends or neighbors to
rely on. Just this act of bringing mothers and children together creates a bond in the
community. And that is the beginning of real support,” says Mounapodi.
When the children reach the age of six, the majority will begin their first year of primary
school where they will be prepared for integration with children from other villages.
“A child kept at home all day thinks everything is his. If they are not stimulated at an
early age, they will never learn how to interact,” explains Mounapodi.
In addition to interaction, children who have lost one or both parents require special
consideration, especially the youngest. Early stimulation impacts brain development,
provides a positive start to life and brings long term, sustained results in the struggle
to raise families out of poverty.
Technical Approach
PCI developed an IECDTraining Resource Guide to improve its partners’ approach to
implementing child stimulation and development activities in underserved commu-
nities.The guide covers Early Stimulation, Health and Nutrition, Child Protection, and
Water and Sanitation.
Over the life of project, PCI and its partners delivered a multi-pronged strategy to en-
sure early childhood development needs were met. promoting cognitive development
through structured play groups and mobile toy teaching to reach isolated commu-
nities.Tsela Kgopo also supported libraries and existing preschools for vulnerable
children. Facilitators complemented activities with birth registration, prevention of
mother to child transmission of HIV, child welfare days and immunization campaigns to
strengthen child protection and overall health.
PCI worked with the Department of Community Development in the Ministry of Local
Government and Rural Development to train 22 preschool teachers and to strengthen
the capacity of local instututions to provide early childhood development programs.
put in place by PCI.
Play group facilitator gives
lessons for more than 20
children every morning.
July, 2016
PCI BOTSWANA
Tholo Park 50369 Fairgrounds
Gaborone, Botswana
+267.319.0198
INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
5151 Murphy Canyon Rd, Suite 320
San Diego, California 92123
T: +1.858.279.9690
F: +1.858.694.0294
Toll Free: 1-877-PCI-HOPE
WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE
1140 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20036
T: +1 .202.223.0088
F: +1.202.662.8995
WWW.PCIGLOBAL.ORG
3,350+
CHILDREN REACHED
with early child
development services
900+
CHILDREN
enrolled in Standard 1
17STRUCTURED
PLAYGROUPS
c r e a t e d
ABOUTPCI
PCI is a global development
organization that drives
innovation from the ground
up to enhance health, end
hunger, and overcome
hardship—resulting in
meaningful and measureable
change in people’s lives. With
programs in 15 countries,
PCI helped transform the
lives of more than 19 million
individuals last year.
ABOUTTSELA KGOPO
With support from the
President’s Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
through USAID and other
initiatives,Tsela Kgopo OVC
and Gender Project supports
the government of Botswana
to improve the quality of
life and self-sufficiency
of orphans and vulnerable
children and gender relations
in Botswana.