International Unitarian Funding Program Gave A Grant To Mulher Forte GBV Project In Botswana

Paula .O .M Otukile

A renewed grant from the United States will extend vital gender-based violence education to hundreds more learners across Botswana.

By Dr. Paula O.M. Otukile

The fight against gender-based violence (GBV) is being carried forward in classrooms across Botswana, backed by a fresh injection of international funding.

In August 2026, the International Unitarian Funding Program* in the United States awarded renewed funding to the Mulher Forte GBV Project in Botswana. The grant will allow the project to continue its school campaigns across the country, equipping learners with the knowledge and tools to recognise, prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

Taking GBV education into schools

Led by Dr. Otukile, Mulher Forte works directly with school leadership and regional education offices to secure permission and schedule presentations. Sessions are structured around three core areas: understanding what GBV is and how it manifests in homes, schools and communities; personal safety and how to respond in a dangerous or compromising situation; and the importance of speaking up — reporting abuse to a trusted adult or safe space.

Since the project launched in 2023, nearly 60 schools in Botswana have benefited from the programme. The reach has also extended beyond national borders, with two schools in Tembisa, South Africa, participating — a sign of the project’s growing regional footprint.

Leadership rooted in advocacy and literacy

At the heart of Mulher Forte is Dr. Otukile, an internationally recognised author and GBV activist. Her work has earned recognition on the continent, including the Best Woman of the Year award from the Save Girl Child NGO in Nigeria in 2021, and the Best Gender-Based Violence Advocate of the Year award in Monrovia, Liberia, the same year.

Beyond her advocacy, Dr. Otukile mentors African authors and writes on issues affecting communities, including HIV, menstruation and other social challenges. She also provides therapeutic support and youth motivation through Ntshegetse Ke Go Tshegetse NGO in Mahalapye — a centre that supports children and the elderly.

Support beyond the grant

The International Unitarian Funding Program has supported the Mulher Forte project since 2023. A key element of that support is access to the Rowe Institute, which trains grant recipients in fundraising, project management and sustainability. Grantees also receive structured guidance on reporting and accountability.

“The good part is the clear assistance one gets after receiving the grant — to file reports, account for how funds were spent, and plan for the continuation of the project,” the project team notes.

Why this work matters

Gender-based violence remains a serious and urgent concern in Botswana, with recent reports of killings and abuse affecting children and young people. Through Mulher Forte’s school campaigns, learners are given language, tools and safe spaces to protect themselves, support their peers and break the silence around abuse.

By investing in education and prevention today, the project is working to build a generation that stands up against violence and chooses dignity, respect and safety — for everyone.

About Mulher Forte GBV Project: Mulher Forte is a community-driven initiative focused on ending gender-based violence through education, advocacy and direct support for children and youth in Botswana and across the region.