Membership
Botswana has around 1300 Mothers' Union members.

Celebrated days
Members celebrate Lady Day at branch level. Some members started the day by visiting the sick in hospital and in their homes. The Mothers' Union President has proposed a special fund to be collected annually on Lady Day for the needy and disadvantaged. The money raised on Lady Day 2003 was used to roof a house for the needy. Food and clothing were also distributed to families in need. The Mothers' Union President challenged the branches to undertake projects at parish level to fulfil the Mothers' Union’s 5th objective – to help those whose family life has met with adversity.

Quiet Day was celebrated on 18 October 2003 throughout the Diocese, a day of prayer and Bible study using the theme In Love and Service.

Women from different denominations met for Women’s World Day of Prayer throughout the country.

Visits
Each branch is usually visited by the Mothers' Union President at least once a year. During the visits branches were urged to inform the Diocese of any training needed to address gaps in effectively fulfilling Mothers' Union duties, roles and responsibilities. Branches were reminded that it is their duty to help and participate in church ministry as well as undertaking projects which address the needs of their communities whenever possible.

Training
Training mostly tried to meet members’ needs as members of Mothers' Union, church and community.

The Annual Training at diocesan level was held 24 – 27 April 2003 with the theme In Love and Service. Most branches were represented. Members considered the theme, the five Objects of Mothers' Union, how to plan activities, taking care of body, mind and spirit, praying for links.

Handwork
Every year members bring handwork, learnt at the Annual Training and completed in their branches, to a competition at the Annual Conference. Members are also encouraged to share their talents by teaching others skills such as sewing, cooking, knitting and patchwork.

Mothers' Union Annual Diocesan Conference
Selibe Phikwe Branch hosted the conference from 21 to 24 August 2003, when the theme was In Love and Service. Members from all over Botswana attended. Representatives also attended from Anglican Youth, Anglican Men’s Fellowship, Anglican Women’s Fellowship, St Mary Guild and other denominations in Selibe Phikwe. The local Member of Parliament was a guest speaker and she encouraged the women to take charge of the problems that society is facing today and thanked them for engaging in local projects such as taking care of the sick.

Mothers' Union Diocesan Orphan Care Programme
The project started at the Mothers' Union Centre in September 2000 with 35 children. There are now 69 orphans aged between three and six years.

Another diocesan project is to grow and sell vegetables for income as well as to feed the children at the Centre.

Branch projects
The role and involvement of Mothers' Union in most parishes continues to grow steadily. Mothers' Union members are involved in projects such as daycare centres, home-based care of terminally-ill relatives (mostly AIDS-related illnesses), prayer groups, taking care of the aged and the poor. Some put up church buildings, build houses for the poor, visit prisons.

Strengths
Almost every member in the Diocese is keen to:

• understand the main purpose of the organisation
• share with their families the experience of being a member of Mothers' Union
• know what else a Mothers' Union member can do besides praying and visiting

Challenges

• improve the spirit of teamwork
• encourage Mothers' Union members to engage in community projects
• encourage young mothers to join Mothers' Union
• encourage members to be committed in their prayer lives

Way forward

• intensify training of branch leaders
• construction of facilities suitable for pre-school children at the Mothers' Union Centre
• monitor the relationship between Mothers' Union and the youth in the church