Currently, 25-35% of Help Lesotho’s intensive program participants are young mothers and fathers looking for guidance. Many of them never experienced positive parenting, which has played a role in Lesotho’s high rates of suicide and depression. Help Lesotho is helping to break this cycle by empowering parents to create loving, supportive environments for their children. Every year we reach many parents and guardians with life-changing education through program sessions and community workshops.
What happens when we empower parents to raise empowered kids in Lesotho?
Parents:
- Feel less stressed and more hopeful
- Feel confident, competent and supported
- Protect their kids (from child marriage, abuse, etc.)
- Champion and nurture their kids
Kids:
- Do better at school AND stay in school longer
- Reach out for help when they need it
- Develop resilience
- Make life-long healthy decisions
Families:
- Experience more peace, stability and love
- Overcome obstacles together
- Improve their overall well-being
Ntate Mashaile is a recent participant of Help Lesotho’s Positive Parenting Workshop, and a dedicated father to a 7-year-old and a new baby born in March 2024. He is a shining example of the positive change our programs inspire!
Mashaile participated in our inter-generational dialogue program back in 2019, where he learned the importance of good communication among community members of different ages. Through the Positive Parenting Workshop he attended in 2024, he has developed essential skills and identified areas he wants to improve as a parent.
His commitment to being an engaged and loving father reflects the core values of our program.
Nkhono Manqalile and Nkhono Mamakeng are past members of Help Lesotho’s Grandmother Program (2018-2020). They recently participated in a workshop on Positive Parenting.
“We used to come to this place [the hall where they attended the Grandmother Program sessions] and forget all our problems. We felt love, we felt safe. We always remember Help Lesotho,” they fondly recall.
Nkhono Manqalile (navy jacket) realized her strengths and weaknesses through the program, which empowered her to bring in income by making brooms. She currently cares for six grandchildren, aged 5 to 17.
Nkhono Mamakeng gained valuable skills to raise orphaned and abandoned children. She cares for eight children, including a 22-year-old with a disability who is also a mother to a 2-year-old.
The children they care for also attend the Smart Kids sessions, which has greatly helped their schooling!
‘A ’Positive Parenting’ workshop for young mothers and community members saw great turnout!
Every year, as part of the Student Sponsorship Program, parents and guardians are invited to an information session with Help Lesotho. This year’s gathering featured updated information and practices for guardians to be able to best support youth at home, and in school.
Community members gathered in Thaba Tseka for a session on Positive Parenting where they learned about how to protect children against child marriage and human trafficking, as well as how to best manage the stress of parenting so they can be good role models and support systems for their children.
