I grew up in Botswana fairly ignorant to the challenges it is faced with because it was all I knew.  It was only when I moved to Australia to study engineering that I encountered the stark contrast between the two worlds and realised Botswana’s need.

During one of my university holidays in 2004, my mother asked to take pictures and video footage of an vulnerable children event in Gumare, a village in the northern parts of Botswana. It was while taking pictures at a lunch organized for these vulnerable children that I felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of children and the need for them to be looked after. The event was run by the Botswana Union Conference (which my mother coordinates) who had great plans to run care programs on a daily basis at key locations around the country but lacked the resources to build permanent facilities. My mother’s dream of caring for vulnerable children by providing education, nutrition and self-worth needs, was so inspiring I felt compelled to do whatever I could to help.

My inspiration solidified when a person who worked for my family told us she had HIV/AIDS.  She had been cooking and cleaning for us for many years and had essentially become part of our extended family. She died a couple of years later and her question echoes for the rest of the estimated 100,000 vulnerable children in Botswana… who will look after my child?  

With my family and friends in the US and Australia, we started the Naledi Initiative – a movement of people focused on delivering a message of hope to vulnerable children. Since that orphan lunch in 2004, we’ve had our fair share of challenges, but we’re committed to the dream: empowering vulnerable children. 

- Ryan Williams