Rooted deep in the culture of Botswana, the traditional African family structure provides for itself, with the young and old being taken care of by middle aged individuals. It’s no secret that HIV/AIDS has put a roadblock in the continuity of such structures, with the illness heavily afflicting this middle aged demographic. Many families have lost their bread-winners, leaving behind the elderly and young, without any real means of support.

Botswana serves as an incredible example for other countries, with a pension system for its citizens and monthly food baskets for the impoverished. Despite these efforts, social security within the nation remains insufficient and the aid available does not always reach the intended target group. For many in Maun, long distances must be walked to fetch necessities such as firewood to cook meals and heat water. This is impossible for many elderly people, rendering them incapable to care for themselves and causing them to be dependent family members. They are not capable of cleaning the house, doing the laundry by hand, or fixing the many leaks in the roof. Polokong, which translates as Place of Salvation, makes it their mission to change the lives of these individuals, by providing them with basic necessities and loving attention.