About Nata

Map of Botswana.  (click map for larger image)

Nata, in Botswana, is a village of 5000 people located on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans.  Unfortunately, HIV/AIDS is having a devastating effect on the people of this small village. Botswana has the second highest HIV infection rate in Africa.  The current rate of infection is 37% nationally and Nata's rate of infection is even higher.  The pandemic has left Nata with over 400 orphans.  Currently, nearly 50% of all pregnant women in Nata are HIV positive.  Thankfully, Botswana has free Anti-Retroviral Therapy available for those with low CD4 (t-cell) counts. We also have a Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission program that has reduced the rate of infection from mother to child to about 5%.  This website is dedicated to the people of Nata who despite enormous losses and challenges still have the courage and determination to fight the ravages of this pandemic.


This is where Botswana is located in Africa.  (click map for larger image)


Rondavels in Nata.

The Engen gas station and bus stop.

A phone shop.

The Nata river.

Geographically, Nata sits near the famous Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. These pans are one of the worlds largest breeding grounds for the greater and lesser flamingo.  After the rains begin, up to one million flamingos return to the pans to breed.  Nata is located 200km northwest of Francistown and 300km east of Maun and 300km south of Kasane.  About 75% of the residents of Nata are from the Basarwa tribe.  This tribe is also known as the bushmen or the san.  The Basarwa speak the Sesarwa language while the national languages of Botswana are English and Setswana.  Most residents live from farming maize, beans, sorghum and melons along with raising goats and cattle. Nearlly 80% of the homes do not have water and the villagers must walk to community stand pipes to collect water.   Electricity is available in the village but most cannot afford the P9000 ( US$1,800) for the connection.

ABOUT BOTSWANA:

Background:

Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the
disease.

Population:

1,639,833
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:	37.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:	350,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:	33,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:	degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2005)
Nationality:	noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Ethnic groups:	Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and white 7%

Comments

[Tiro Kganela]

Welcome aboard - to the information super highway ! Welcome to the global village village ! Nice website .

[Professor Tom Hayes]

This is a terrific website, just packed with good information. Its like an encylopedia of Nata.

I was in South Africa last year working on a documentary about HIV/AIDS and felt that the web would be a great way to get information about the HIV/AIDS situation there out to the world.

It struck me that there is another way that the people of Africa could use the web: as a powerful commercial venue for direct marketing traditional cultural products.

In South Africa people do some of the most beautiful bead work I've ever seen. When I tried to purchase some necklaces for Christmas presents over the web I had a devil of a time ; I couldn't use a credit card, shipping arrangements had to be made before sending a bank transfer so those costs would be covered, etc.

It seems to me that you could have a tab on your site where local artisans - sculptors, weavers, bead work makers, doll makers - could market their products. If you set up a PayPal account customers would have a simple means of purchasing goods and shipping could be built into costs.

There are lots of people in this world who would like to make direct contributions to easing the impact of AIDS and poverty. A purchasing portal would provide a simple means to engage the issues and improve the local economy without middlemen skimming profits.

That's my two pula. I just wanted to give you some feedback. I'm not really looking to have this posted on the site.

Great Work!
Gosiame, Sala Sentle

[arthur]

Hello. I am so happy. Because this blog is wonderful. African people will have better life standarts, i believe this. I am from Turkey, Ankara. Good bye...

[Jim Riggott]

Hi - I came across this site this evening, and have really, really enjoyed it. What an amazing story. My folks lived in Gabarone from late 1973 - April 1984 - I have very fond memories of Botswana.

If I can at all help you out with anything on your site, or possibly develop some ecards to help with fundraising, or something, or anything, please let me know, I would be only too willing to help.

Best wishes

Jim

[Esau Isaac Seisa]

i think this is so helpful and i would encourage people around the world to visit the web and get latest information about this village,i think i know too much about the village as i was born and stayed in that for over 20 years,i m currently staying in Gaborone were i m studing at the university of Botswana,i usually visit the place during school vacation and would lyk to help in any way needed.

[PAKO MOCHAWACHA]

I guess you are doing a good job so am also from Nata and willing to assist wherever is possible but currently am in Malaysia studying.

[Bongi Ncayiyana]

I saw a story about this website on the news last night and decided to check it out.Wow! Its a great website. I hope the people of Nata are proud of it.
Keep up the good work.

[Gobonaone Jennifer Obopile]

I saw about Nata village website on the news of the 14 May 2007. So this morning I visited the site. It is very good and educational. So people of Nata you are blesed to have this educational website.

God bless you all people of Nata

[Anonymous]

An outstanding example for other HIV/AIDS infected villages across the world. Good Luck!

[Melody Jenkins]

We would like to thank all of you who have given your positive comments on this site. Since our story aired on BTV, we are especially pleased that Batswana have found the site and appreciate it. We work very hard to give a balanced and clear picture of life in Nata. Please feel free to share your stories of how HIV/AIDS has impacted your lives here in Botswana and help to educate the world. All the best, Melody, technical advisor

[blessing]

je suis tres contente d'apprendre de cette website... j'attends bien de rendre une visite avant la fin de l'annee..! je vous remercie pour ca Nata.Dieu vous donnez plus de benedictions...mes salutations a Nata Clinc pour travaillant avec cette commanite..! merci!

[Monusi Rancholo]

Hi
Im a young lady from Nata village. Actually Kgosi Makgesi is my uncle (my mothers brother). I love your website and am really proud of what you have achieved and what my home village has achieved over the years. I grew up living in Orapa (the diamond mine town) because my mom worked there, I went to Secondary School at Maru a pula Secondary school in Gaborone and studied for a degree in Social Sciences, majoring in Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Botswana. I now work for the Parliament of Botswana. despite growing up in towns I spent every holiday when I was growing up in Nata. I have always loved it and though I never have enough time to go there lately, I still hold it dear to my heart. Most of my mothers family still lives there and we occationally get together and have a great time on some holidays. I'm really proud to tell all my friends about Nata and what it has achieved. I take my hat off to all who have made us proud to come from Nata.

Monusi Rancholo

[seks shop]

thanksss

[Daniel]

Thanks for posting this blog. I am writing a paper that portrays the difference of a villager in Botswana today to that of the one that Bessie Head wrote about in her short story Life, contained in The Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales. Is there any more information available on other sites that could help me grasp what life is like for you today? Thanks for any help.

[Refiloe Mokgwetsi]

Hi

I wouldn't have known about the existence of this website and its contents if it weren't for my search for my childhood friend Monusi Rancholo.Even though i am based in South Africa, I will never forget where I come from. I am proud to say I am a Motswana. This site has been an eye-opener for me. It has shed some light on issues that i was oblivious to. Even though I try to keep abreast of that which is happening in Botswana, information is limited.
Big up to everyone who was instrumental in the creation and success of this site.

[Tendani Kgosidialwa]

I also come from Nata vilage and I am really excited about the blog and the positive feedback that we receive from people around the world. Thank you very much....le ka moso.

[mompati seitiso]

Hi there! i also feel it essential to congrets on the great job my village have overcomed,currently im studying in malaysia, and i just wanna do something of interest for my village due to my completion of studies,love u all batho ba nata.

[mompati seitiso]

Hi there! i also feel it essential to congrets on the great job my village have overcomed,currently im studying in malaysia, and i just wanna do something of interest for my village due to my completion of studies,love u all batho ba nata.

[Keabetswe keabotsa]

Oh my god!!!I never realized there were so many people infected with HIV/AIDS in Nata, well I'm from Nata too, I left in 2005 to study in Canada, maybe I was very ignorant, I'm really touched by this tragedy...

[Melody Jenkins]

Dear Keabetswe,
Yes, the infection rate in Nata is tragic but the problem is not only in Nata. There are nearly 100,000 people in Botswana being kept alive on ARV's out of a population of less than 1.3 million. This tradedy is affecting the entire country. Thanks for commenting on our site. Melody, blogger

[Maipelo Gloria Tabona]

it is amazing how a big thing could come out of a small thing.who would have thought that a small village as nata could accomplish this much. am grateful of the blog that i have just seen. the most important ting is we should try and reduce this huge numbers of HIV infection in our village.to all the people that have been sending comments(especially those that are from Nata), dont you think if we could just team up and educate our fellow villagers during the little time that we get from our hectic schedule would mean something?if we stand together, we shall win. God Bless you all!

[Kay Morrison]

Hurray Nata!
I had the good fortune to visit Nata in February, and was graced with the hospitality of Melody, Mr. Tiro and a band of warm Batswana. I live in Seattle, Washington, USA, and Africa seems so far away most days.... The NataVillage website is an amazing portal into daily life in Botswana, and really brings home the challenges and triumphs of living in such a complicated and beautiful place. Thank you for the dedicated effort of sharing your stories. They are being heard. And shared again.

It is tremendous what a small group of dedicated people can do, and Nata has shown, and keeps showing us, where we can go.

From rainy Seattle with love,
Kay Morrison

[PAKO MOCHAWACHA]

I really can't get what is going on among our people in Nata am one of the youth of this falling village due to AIDS,i went home on December for Xmas and i was shocked by this escalating rate and wish Mabogo and Ntwakgolo could do something to help our poor people...sex is not a need people let's try to abstain especially young once at secondary level and alcohol consumption a re iketleleng bojalwa banana ba Nata tota re ya thaelong.Where is the future of NATA?

[PAKO MOCHAWACHA]

Nata is our motherland and our ancestors are watching let's protect our land before is invaded by foreigners cause it seems like ga re a ikaelela go itsosa le rona banana we no longer listen to our parents...god help us on this!!!!!

[Pamela ketlhoilwe]

this website is amazing i hope it is utilised by everyone everywhere. i also come from Nata. A BEAUTIFUL PLACE INDEED. HIV/AIDS IS A REALITY i would like to say to especially the youth "STAND UP AND FIGHT THIS DISEASE" . LUV YOU ALL. SETLOGOLO SAGA KOJO