‘Malekhanooe Lekhanooe lives in Pitseng, Lumelang village, nestled beneath a beautiful mountain along the road to Katse Dam. The village is surrounded by natural vegetation—rose hips, prickly pears and agaves—creating a peaceful and picturesque setting, despite the many challenges she faces.
At 72 years old, ‘Malekhanooe is the primary caregiver for her household, which includes her son and two grandchildren. Her granddaughter is in high school, while her grandson is in primary school. She is widowed, and with her son unable to work due to an illness-related disability, the family relies entirely on her elderly pension. Her daughter lives in South Africa but rarely sends financial support.
Her home consists of two huts, set apart from each other. She shares one with her granddaughter, while her son and grandson sleep in the other. Despite having a small garden—flourishing with vegetables grown from seeds provided by the Help Lesotho Grandmother Support Program—life remains difficult. Heavy rains often leave her hut damp, and with no mattress or bed, she sleeps on dried cowherds as an improvised mattress.
Every day, she rises early to cook, wash dishes and prepare for the long walk to collect firewood and water from the community well. She tends her vegetable garden and carefully preserves food for the harsh winter months ahead.
‘Malekhanooe finds strength in the Help Lesotho Grandmother Program. She particularly values the lessons on communication, resilience, self-care, and food preservation, which have helped her cope with life’s difficulties, even when things feel overwhelming.
Nkhono ‘Malekhanooe is one of 200 grandmothers currently enrolled in Help Lesotho’s Grandmother Support Program. Through the ‘Lighten Her Load’ campaign, your gift will equip these grandmothers with items to ease their daily burdens.
- Food parcels to ensure their families are fed and nourished
- Seeds for growing fresh vegetables
- Shade nets to protect crops
- Hippo Rollers to transport water in larger quantities (few trips to the well) and without causing damage and pain
