OUR HERITAGE

Kagisano Society (KS) is a humanitarian organization that was established in the 1970s and at that time specifically served refugees from the different parts of Southern Africa.

Kagisano Society (KS) is a humanitarian organization that was established in the 1970s and at that time specifically served refugees from the different parts of Southern Africa. In 1994, with most of the countries gaining independence and most refugees returning to their home countries, KS looked for another opportunity to serve society. After consultation with the relevant stakeholders that included Chiefs, Social Workers, the Police, Women’s NGOs and international development partners, the Kagisano Society Women’s Shelter Project (KSWSP) was set up and opened in June 1998 as the first shelter for battered women and their children in Botswana. In a bid to improve its services, KSWSP carried out a strategic direction exercise at the end of 2012. One of the outcomes of that exercise was change of its name from Kagisano Society Women’s Shelter Project (KSWSP) to Kagisano Society Women’s Shelter (KSWS).

In February 2017, registration process started and in August 2017, we received Certificate of Registration with the new name – Botswana GBV Prevention and Support Centre. 

In November 2016, Kagisano Society Board approached the management of KSWS that it was time to release KSWS so it can be an independent NGO. In their letter expressing the same, they committed to donate the two properties, i.e. Shelter and Drop-In-Centre to KSWS as well as all movable property. The transition required that we move out of the auspices of Kagisano Society and be registered as a new entity. This was a requirement by the Registrar of Societies. The Board agreed to this opportunity and in December 2016, KSWS staff and Board members went through the process of selecting ten names for submission to Registrar of Societies. In February 2017, registration process started and in August 2017, we received Certificate of Registration with the new name – Botswana GBV Prevention and Support Centre. The handing over by Kagisano Society was done on 28 March, 2018, an exciting transition for KSWS to start operating as the Botswana GBV Prevention and Support Centre. Nothing else changed except the name and the fact that BGBVC is independent from Kagisano Society.