At 86 years old, Nkhono Malehlotha carries the wisdom of nearly nine decades in her eyes, spending her days caring for her five grandchildren. She joined Help Lesotho’s two-year Grandmother Program with curiosity, but soon found a sense of clarity that transcended the forgetfulness she often associates with her age. Some lessons she discovered are written on the heart rather than the mind.
Through the organization's psychosocial support, Malehlotha learned that hatred is a heavy burden; instead, she was empowered to live a life rooted in love, embracing the power of teamwork to strengthen both her family and her community.
Perhaps the most profound shift occurred within the four walls of her home through Help Lesotho’s intergenerational communication training. Malehlotha realized that parenting is not merely about dictating what should be done, but rather about working together as a family to reach amicable solutions. By moving away from a ‘command and obey’ style, she has fostered a relationship with her grandchildren that is significantly happier and healthier.
When the sessions turned to self-care and economic stability, Malehlotha found a practical path to resilience. She found healing and independence in the soil. She emphasizes that living solely through buying is an expensive struggle that keeps people trapped in poverty. By cultivating her own vegetable plot, she has created a dual stream of success: she provides nutritious food for her grandchildren to eat and sells the surplus to create a steady income.
For Malehlotha, the journey with Help Lesotho has been about more than just information; it has been about reclaiming her power to produce for herself and planting seeds of peace that will sustain her family for generations to come.
