The aim of this study is to examine how the “empowering” strategies of Botswana
Baylor Adolescent Programme (BBAP) are addressing problems HIV-positive
adolescents are facing and how stigmatisation around HIV might be contributing to
these problems. The main theories applied were “empowerment” and “stigma”. The
study was carried out with a qualitative approach during a period of ten weeks at the
Botswana Baylor Children’s Clinical Centre of Excellence (COE) in Gaborone. The
research was based on key informant interviews and observations at four different
branches of the BBAP. The results of the study show that many of the problems HIVpositive
adolescents face are caused by stigmatisation in society. To “empower” HIVpositive
adolescents, BBAP aims to improve the HIV-positive adolescents’ selfesteem
and confidence by providing them psychosocial support, giving them
vocational training and advice on how to disclose. However, empowerment is only
limited to within the walls of COE, as COE does not challenge the norms and
behaviour in society that are the root cause of stigma. The conclusions are that the
BBAP is only “empowering” HIV-positive adolescents in certain dimensions, and to
be able to challenge the norms in society, greater communication and involvement
between the “disempowered” and the society is encouraged