The Betway Cares Foundation has donated P2.5 million to the Botswana Gender-Based Violence Centre (BGBVC) in Francistown to support the construction of a new shelter for survivors of gender-based violence. The contribution marks one of the largest private-sector investments in GBV support infrastructure in Botswana.
Speaking during the handover, BGBVC chief executive officer Lorato Moalusi expressed gratitude for the donation, describing it as a lifeline for victims who urgently need safe spaces. “We accept this support with deep humility, but also with great responsibility. We pledge to use it wisely, efficiently and transparently, and ensure that every Pula contributes directly to the safety and restoration of those in need,” she said.
Moalusi said the donation was more than financial aid. It was a statement of solidarity with survivors and a clear rejection of violence as a social norm. “This sends a message that survivors are not alone, that their dignity matters, and that the nation refuses to accept violence as part of our society,” she added.
She noted that the BGBVC had been facing a shortage of secure spaces where survivors could heal and rebuild their lives. The planned shelter, she said, would close that gap and give victims a safe environment to recover and regain independence.
Moalusi confirmed that the centre was already engaging local authorities to identify and secure suitable land for the facility. Once approved, construction would begin immediately to ensure that survivors could benefit from the new shelter as soon as possible.
Betway Cares Foundation country manager Michelle France-Mabiletsa said the donation reflected the organisation’s broader commitment to supporting communities and protecting vulnerable groups. She said the initiative aimed to create a Botswana where women and children could live free from fear and violence.
“We must speak frankly about a crisis that continues to steal the futures of too many Batswana. The statistics on GBV in our nation are not just numbers, they represent shattered lives, trauma, and dreams unjustly deferred,” said France-Mabiletsa. She called for united action from all sectors of society to end gender-based violence.
The partnership between Betway Cares Foundation and the BGBVC underscores the importance of collaboration in tackling social challenges. With the growing number of GBV cases reported across the country, the new shelter is expected to provide not only physical safety but also psychological and legal support for survivors.
The P2.5 million project will form part of Betway Cares Foundation’s broader community empowerment program, which focuses on education, health, and social welfare. For the BGBVC, it represents a major step toward strengthening Botswana’s response to gender-based violence and providing survivors with the tools to rebuild their lives with dignity.
