In the heart of Maun, Botswana, Lorato House Rescue Center stands as a vital sanctuary for children in despair. Operated by the Love Botswana Outreach Mission, the center provides 24-hour care to orphans and vulnerable children, including those living with disability. It is one of the few facilities in the region offering such comprehensive support.
“Lorato house was established as a sanctuary for abandoned, abused, and neglected children, including orphans living with disabilities, at a time when no other facilities in the region could meet their needs,” says Agatha Elijah, one of the center’s key leaders, in an interview with Business Weekly & Review.
At Lorato, “Rescue” means protecting children from harmful circumstances such as abuse, neglect, abandonment, and baby dumping by providing them with a safe, loving environment. All children are admitted through court orders facilitated by social workers from district councils across Botswana. Once admitted, each child receives structured care, emotional support and the security needed while the state works on long-term placement plans.
Originally intended to provide short-term care for children removed from unsafe environments, the center now often becomes a long-term home due to systemic delays. “No child should have to live in a hospital or grow up in an institution; every child deserves to grow up in a loving, safe home,” Elijah emphasises.
“Our mission is to provide short-term care for children removed from unsafe situations, but due to delays in placement by the councils, we often end up caring for children long term.” Many have grown up with us from birth because their cases remain open for years.”
The center currently provides full-time care for 61 children ranging in age from 3 months to 16 years. Our youngest residents, about one-third of the children, are aged between 0 and 2 years,” says Elijah, a leader at the center.
“Another third quarter is between 2 and 4 years old, and around a quarter are between 4 and 9.” The remaining children, many of whom have severe physical or developmental disabilities, are as old as 14. Some have spent most or all of their lives at the center due to long delays in state placement processes.
To meet the complex needs of the children, Lorato House employs a trauma-informed care approach, delivered by a trained multidisciplinary team that includes a nurse, social workers, and a counselor. “Many of our children have endured unthinkable trauma,” Elijah explains. “Our staff responds with patience, consistency, and compassion.
The community also plays a vital role in sustaining the center’s work through in-kind donations, volunteer hours, and service partnerships. Local businesses such as Woolworths and KFC have provided regular support in the form of food and toiletries.
Individuals and groups often visit to engage the children in enriching activities like arts, games, and playtime. However, volunteerism remains an area of great need, especially in offering consistent mentorship, developmental support, and special care for children with disabilities.
Although the center currently lacks consistent corporate sponsors, it has received impactful one-off donations from various companies and organisations over the years. To maintain trust and accountability, Lorato House ensures transparency by issuing detailed financial and impact reports, sharing anonymised stories and developmental milestones, and maintaining open lines of communication with all supporters.
Despite these challenges, Lorato House continues to offer stability, care, and hope to some of the country’s most vulnerable children, proving that compassion, community, and commitment can create lasting changes.
