We recently caught up with a couple Pearl Girls who completed the Pearl Program a few years ago. These girls are now nearly finished their high school education. Read on to see how the program has made an impact in their lives and helped them to navigate high school with confidence and success.
16-year-old SEBOPEHO is in grade 11, the final year of high school in Lesotho. She completed the Pearl Program back in 2019. Sebopeho lives with her mother and three brothers. Her mother is not working, but her older brother is an accountant and is able to help support the family. When she was in grade 10, Sebopeho started dreaming of becoming a doctor when she grows up because she loves biology.
Looking back at when she started high school, Sebopeho does not hesitate to say that peer pressure was the biggest challenge. Everywhere she looked she could see students being negatively influenced by others. Some are no longer attending school because they did not keep their grades up. For Sebopeho, she decided to avoid making close friends in the first couple years of high school. She was friendly with people, but did not want anyone to have too much influence over her. Now she has wonderful friends whom she fully trusts. She knows what good friendships look like and she isn’t willing to accept anything less. The same goes for finding a boyfriend – although Sebopeho hasn’t found someone who is a good match for her yet.
She said, “I see my friends having so many boyfriends, but they hurt them so much. I don’t want that.”
Sebopeho maintained friendships with fellow Pearl Girls from her session. Even though they go to several different schools, they are still able to support one another; “We like to help each other”.
A quiet leader with a bright smile, Sebopeho stands up against peer-pressure and bullying in her school and has become a trusted confidant among other young girls in her school and community. “The Pearl Program helped so much. There are so many challenges, especially for girls. I get to help others now.” She shared an example of a girl being bullied for being at the top of her class. Other students were taking her books and making fun of her for performing well. Sebopeho befriended the girl and supported her to keep her head up. They are now friends who rely on one another to have each others’ backs.
“In my village there are so many children who are not going to school. I see everyday what I would be doing if I didn’t have this opportunity.”
At just 16-years-old, grade 10 student MEISI is already a strong leader amongst her peers. She was orphaned at just eight-years old and has survived thanks to the support of her grandmother. After completing the Pearl Program in 2020, she began her high school education with confidence. “I was a really shy person but being at Help Lesotho really helped me.”
Reflecting on her time as a Pearl Girl and Pearl Mentor, Meisi shared, “Before I was stressed to say anything wrong. But being a Pearl Girl and Mentor helped me learn to talk and share ideas. Now I join everything and have things to say.” She went on to say, “I was always being told I am unique, just like unique pearl stones. I learned self-esteem and human rights. It really helped me be a leader. Next year I will be head girl at my school. Teachers could see my self-esteem so they chose me. I’m open with other people.”
Being promoted as ‘head girl’ at her school is a tremendous accomplishment. The position is nominated by students who select the person they feel best represents the student body. As head girl, Meisi will be a link between teachers and students. She will motivate and encourage students to work hard and dedicate themselves to their studies.
Meisi is putting what she learned from the Pearl Program into action every day. She has overcome so much to get to where she is today, and she knows she still has a long way to go to figure out her future, especially without parents to support and guide her along the way. It is astonishing that she has the capacity to support and motivate other students the way she is. There is no doubt that Meisi has a bright future ahead!
For more information about the Pearl Program, or to shop Pearls4Girls jewelry, click here.
Have you watched the latest Coffee with Peg and Mamoletsane? On October 14, Help Lesotho’s Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Peg Herbert, and Mme Mamoletsane Khati, Help Lesotho’s Country Director sat down for a virtual chat to discuss the latest on COVID-19 in Lesotho and the organization’s new project in South Africa. They were joined by two psychosocial support professional interns, Motopi and Lineo. Enjoy!
As part of the Help Lesotho’s 2nd GBV Blitz campaign in 2021, youth in Lesotho were encouraged to submit poems using the theme: What does it mean to ‘Do the Right Thing’ to stop gender-based violence in Lesotho?Read the two winning poems below! Each winner received a smart phone and will have their poems published in the national newspaper.
Nthabiseng Litha
Afrika u hloretseng?
Ke hlorisitso ke hona ho hloka phomolo Bosiu le motseare tsebe li tletsee molumo Molumo o otlang pelo Seboko sa phohomela Poboli ea mehla Sello sa basali ba Afrika
Ba Ila basali ba Afrika ‘Mele e tletse metopahali le mabali Metoahali le mali Ekaba ba sentse kae basali?
Afrika theola moea mofumahali Ke o theola joang ho qhalahang mali? Serata ngoana ke seota ‘m’ae U le rate joang lesea u khakhatho ‘m’a lona? Lea etsa’ng masea lea amoha bophelo? Lea etsa’ng masea lea qhaqha lippeloana? Kana sello se ha le se utloe na? Ruri sa tsuonyana ha se hlomole phakoe.
Ho senyehile kae maapara-kobo? Ho senyehile kae majara-furu-ka-mahetla?
Tsohang banna ba Afrika Robelana tlhokou le fate litsebe Le tle le utloe le se utloelle
Thehang ke hona e be lethoethoe Nkang malebela ke le loma tsebe Hlobolang bohlorisi le apare bohlokomeli Nkang lihlomo tsa lona le eme moleng oa ntoa Le loanele mafumqhali le lese ho a loantsa Sireletsang masea le nene ho a siteloa
Tsohang banna ba mobu oa selokoe Haba se bolokoe Haba se bolokoa ke hona ho sireletsa mafumahali
Tooana tse mesana, matsoara-thipa-ka-bohaleng Ha o baballow mobu peo e tle e behe ha lehholo Baballang basali le bana Ho tloha molokong ona ho isa ho ee lekholo
Nka be ke re ‘ea khaola ea ea’ Empa ha e khaole Kajeno E Kobile Hlooho, e laba-labela khotso Khotso Khaitse ea Moshoashoaila.
Reabetsoe Thulo
A war that can be won
Brutality has won the war against our women and children Violence runs its course in the ruins of our homes
When will it end? Men, when will we stop? Have we not shed enough blood? Have we not caused enough death?
Moshoeshoe tsoha fatshe lea timela Moshoeshoe tsoha barali ba Basotho baa fela Demoralised by the very warriors of our land Lord lord? Carest thou not that we perish?
What has this world come to? For the men who are to protect us Are the very first to abuse us Who can we turn to? Who can hear our pleads? Our mountains are filled with the cries of our mothers, sisters and daughters
And if you say “but it’s not me” then you are part of the problem You see it, you call it out, Not saying it is as bad as advocating for it
I am tired I am tired of being part of a virus that decimates the very species that gives life to the world we live in All they want to do is grab, hit, and smash I am tired
This has to stop We need to stand tall We are the voice of the voiceless
Let us come together as one to fight against the abuse of our women and children One heart One voice One goal We can win this war.
International Women’s Day 2021: In honour of International Women’s Day (March 8), Dr. Peg Herbert gave a Zoom presentation to the ‘Women in Real Estate’ group from RE/MAX Hallmark about her experience with gender equity. Her talk focused on the importance of involving boys and men in the fight for gender equity. Peg shared inspiring examples from her work as Founder and Executive Director of ‘Help Lesotho’.
As part of the Help Lesotho GBV Blitz campaign in late 2020, youth in Lesotho were encouraged to submit essays and poems using the theme: What does it mean to ‘Do the Right Thing’ to stop gender-based violence in Lesotho?A total of 60 Basotho participated in the competition, sharing beautifully written poems and essays on the topic. Though a tough decision, four were selected as the contest winners and each writer received a smartphone prize! Read the four winning essays and poems below.
What does it mean to ‘stop gender based violence’ in Lesotho? By: Likhapha Lehlabaphiri
Gender based violence is violence directed against a person because of that person’s gender or violence that affects persons of a particular gender extremely. Violence against women is understood as a violation of human rights and a form of discrimination against women and shall mean all acts of GBV that result in, or are likely to result in physical harm, sexual harm, psychological harm , economic harm or suffering to women.
GBV can include violence against women, domestic violence against women, men or children living in the same domestic unit. Although women and girls are the main victims of GBV, it also causes severe harm to families and communities.
To ‘Do the Right thing’ to stop GBV in Lesotho means raising awareness of the dangers of harmful traditions or cultural beliefs. It is believed by many Basotho communities that to be considered a “real” woman you have to be circumcised. This can be devastating impact on girls’ lives. We have to help rural families to learn about the facts and change their attitudes to help the practice come to an end.
Challenging and speaking about violence in the home means to ‘Do the Right thing’ to stop GBV in our country. Parents should raise issues concerning GBV with their children and means of mitigation. That would help children to be knowledgeable and recognize where there is GBV and how they help minimize or prevent it.
Engaging boys and young men to become agents of change means to ‘Do the Right thing’ to stop GBV in the mountain kingdom. To be effective, strategies must not only empower women, but also should include men and boys to bring about significant changes. This will help men and boys in ending patriarchal norms, gender inequality and GBV.
To ‘Do the Right thing’ to stop GBV in Lesotho means listening to girls’ experience of violence and their solutions. It is the first step in breaking the cycle of abuse when a woman shares her story of violence. Abused persons needs help and whatever help you can offer as a helper, you also have to listen to then what they think needs to be done in order for them to be helped.
Mobilizing youth to fight harmful practices such as child marriage means to ‘Do the Right thing’ to stop GBV in Lesotho. There is a sesotho saying that “Lets’oele le beta poho”, this simply means that we often tacle the biggest problem when we are many. As the youths of Lesotho, we have to stand and say it is enough with violating the rights of young children. I believe that when we are together, our voices will be heard that forces marriages have to come to an end, it is wrong as parents to force your child marry someone older that them and it is also wrong for an old man to be in a marriage alliance with a child.
In conclusion, GBV is a major issue in this country, it is happening and it is for us as individuals to prevent it nationwide. We have to help the victims of GBV to heal and believe in change.
Full stop to Gender Based Violence By: Rets’epile Mokhauli
By virtue of being a woman We are born vulnerable At times our life expectancy is significantly shortened Simply because we are women
Like a hungry lion you came roaring My feet trembled You left my soul troubled I have become a graveyard A place for you to dispose of your lifelessness Day in day out inside of me I see not a precious angel I believed I was Just a piece of useless object
With my God-given curves You thought I seduced you You forced yourself on me What about my innocent babysister And granny with her long dress Did she seduce you too Just admit you are monster You threatened to eliminate me permanently If I breathed a single word So I’ve become a loner
As though it wasn’t enough You beat my mom into a pulp For mistakenly adding too much salt into the gravy She wears makeup to cover her scars
You say you love her but is this the love she deserves She keeps crawling at your feet begging for mercy Neighbors saw her running outside half naked They looked away because they claim they do no want trouble Mahokela le hokae oeeee Basotho ho senyehile kae?
I marched towards losing hope I thought I would not cope But something inside me awoken If I speak, he won’t touch me again I need to do the right thing The words kept making an echo in my head
I got you behind bars huh So you cannot add more statistics to GBV You said you’d kill me That was just a threat to keep me from blabbing
Let’s create posts everywhere Hashtags all over Make a noise For our silence is too loud STOP GENDER BASED VIOLENCE!!
So dear abusers You feel you deserve a thank you right? Am I am sorry it was my fault? You should be ashamed of yourselves
Listen woman It’s not your fault The police, the psychologist, the neighbor Yes you need to change your tune
You can’t kill me, sell my body parts And sleep like a baby How do you do it?
Taking me to a place unknown Making money with every man that enters and leaves my precious baby Which I had preserved till marriage
Let’s do the right thing Teach our children to know that violence is bad That our children speaking does not mean seeking attention Raise awareness Grow more than enough platforms Approach media outlets, activists with all the confidence Lets spit fire that awakens every man’s soul to desire to stop violence Make it our goal to grow exponentially To make a bigger difference in our small beautiful country Leave no stone unturned If we despise violence We will fight it till justice prevails
Till Lesotho becomes a safe haven for all its citizens Let’s see our women as precious jewels We are responsible for change Do the right thing Stop Gender based violence!
ETSA SE NEPAHETSENG, NENA TLHEKEFETSO EA BASALI LE BANANA By: Makhanya Lekhutle
Koli-ea-malla hae ha Moshoeshoe, Basali ba apoloa likobo nyene le bosiu, Koko le es’o ome ngoetsi e ngaletse hae habo eona, Hloohong e roetse le sa ts’eloeng ke nta leqeba.
Thoetsana ea motse li ola molora lia hlaha, Ba se ba e sheshenne bo kobo-thokoa, chobeliso, Haele lilemo e sa tsoa ts’ela atla tse peli maoba, Sekolo sona e se etla kopana le sona litorong.
Mosi foqo, moqebelo ha ‘Manthabiseng, Nthabiseng o ile kae ha moea o tletse tlhonamo tje? Ba mo isitse masihloane thaka-mphato tsa Ranthabiseng, Mats’eliso e se e le a se nang phoofo phelo bo khaolelitsoe.
Bo- Majoro thibang kholumolumo e metsa bo- Efa ba Lesotho! E kakatleleng ka litlena le e time bohale, Ketsa- molao ha e tiise letsoho ho khalema, Bo- Ramatla, bo-Rapeto ba tle ba ts’abele ruri.
Makhotla akofang ho aba toka ho mahlatsipa, Hlohlelang lisenyi tsena ntloana-ts’oana, Ho bona eke ba mollong oa lihele, Bo-Ramatla, bo-Rapeto ba hlapele mats’ehong.
Lefifing le lets’o la tsikitlano ea tlhekefetso, Chaba se lahlehile se phuthile matsoho, Thuto ha e be leseli toala! ho lelekisa lefifi, Bo Adama ba ananele bohlokoa ba basali.
Hlahlellang tlhankana ea lona e sa thuthuoa, Thuto ba e anye letsoeleng, e otlolloa e sa le metsi, Ngoanana ke khalase a ts’oaroe ka hlokolosi! Mosali ke khalase a ts’oaroe ka hlokolosi!
Lingoli barutehi se phetseng ho ngola, Evangeli ka tsa tlhekefetso e be kobo-anela, Marena, mak’hanselara Tele ho ea Mechechane, Hlanya lea kopaneloa epang li pitso hlaha e time.
Sechaba, baruti, matichere etsang sakana-la-nkope, Phunyeletsang metseng le metsaneng, Ts’ehetsang mahlatsipa a tlhekefetso, Mofuthu le lerato ho bona e be lelomolo.
What does it mean to do the right thing? By: Poloko Mokoai
Patriarchy can be defined as an integral system which is consistent of male dominance enforced by violence which is often done on women. Gender-based violence is a product of toxic masculinity which is so rife in our societies. The endemic of gender-based violence is global phenomenon and Lesotho is no exception. Unfortunately, the convictions are not in alignment with the number of reported cases. In as much as some people may want to help eradicate abuse against women, they claim to not know what needs to be done to stop femicide. The essay will try to shed light in what it means to do the right thing.
People need to be educated on what gender-based violence is in order to know how to fight against the deadly social ill affecting our societies. Nelson Mandela said education is the most powerful weapon which we can use to change society. Gender-based violence is more than just raping women but also involves innocent micro-aggressions which make women uncomfortable. It can be a touch on her shoulder that makes her feel uneasy to the catcalling on the streets. Learning about the dynamics of gender-based violence will help people to know when they are crossing the line and to stop what they are doing. Moreover, it is quite clear that men do not necessarily understand what consent is and need to be taught about it. Consent is when two people are consciously in agreement for sexual activity to take place.
To do the right thing needs courage especially for men because speaking out could have them labelled as weaklings by their peers; but they need to speak out against rape culture. At social gatherings, men need to call out crude sexual comments said as jokes by their friends and to have conversations about what gender-based violence is. Instead of protecting their friends, they need to ostracize people in their circles who are part of the issue so as to discourage others from abusing women. Men tend to be enablers of abuse against women by applauding peers who claim to know how to put their women in line hence fixing the problem needs to begin with men to know what is right or not. For instance, boys in a group catcall-girls and make sexual comments while laughing which terrifies women. This culture has been long going for years and needs to be put to a stop.
Listening and believing victims is a step towards doing the right thing because it takes bravery to talk about an assault. Most women suffer in silence for fear of being blamed and humiliated when they speak up. When women report the crime, they take the first step towards breaking the cycle and stopping their abuser from doing the same to someone else. Furthermore, giving victims a safe space to talk about their abuse not only helps them have their sense of power back but also helps them deal with what happened and work towards the healing process. What`s more, victims will speak up without fear of being crucified or ostracized by their communities.
To fight against gender-based violence we need to dismantle the criminal justice system that is deeply rooted with patriarchy. The criminal justice system enables victimisation of women by allowing rapists to make bail and roam the streets freely. For example, a man was released on bail so he could prepare the funeral of the wife he murdered a few weeks ago. What`s worse, there has been cases reported whereby victims of sexual assault are mocked by police officers who take pleasure in asking them senseless questions and making the affected person keep repeating the event. The criminal justice system needs to protect women and children by imposing longer sentences for criminals and to work on rehabilitating them so that they can successfully be reintegrated back into the societies.
To infer, gender-based violence is destroying communities and need to be taken as a matter of emergence throughout the year not just during the 16 days of activism. For a country to be success, it first needs to root out toxic masculinity and work on equality for all genders. Doing the right is not just the responsibility of the government but for every person. As the Sesotho phrase states: letshoele le beta poho”. We all need to work together to combat GBV.
Help Lesotho continues to adapt to the changing COVID-19 landscape. As of September 2020, we are delivering programs that allow for physical distancing and that comply with current Lesotho government regulations for gatherings. Staff and participants wear masks and practice good hand hygiene. All programs now include COVID-19 education and opportunities for participants to ask questions and clarify myths. Many vulnerable people have little access to information which can lead to increased anticipatory anxiety in such a crisis. Providing clear information and strategies for managing stress is proving to be a highly impactful COVID-19 prevention strategy. Our staff continue to provide psychosocial support to beneficiaries regarding the many challenges they face, some related to the COVID-19 pandemic, others the result of the ongoing HIV/AIDS pandemic and the extremely high rate of gender-based violence entrenched in the country.
Caring4Caregivers Campaign Update:
The Caring4Caregivers campaign was launched to provide relief to already vulnerable families in Lesotho were struggling to meet their most basic needs. Because of the incredible response from the Help Lesotho community, 1,230 families – over 5,000 people – received the most substantial relief packages Help Lesotho has ever distributed.
The procurement and distribution to remote villages was a massive undertaking, but we are proud that the comment we heard over and over again from community leaders and village chiefs was ‘Thank you for doing this right. You reached the people who need this support more than anyone else. The package contained the items that were truly needed [rather than things that were easy to get and give]’.
“Hi, I am Makheleli, a proud Help Lesotho participant of the young mothers’ program. Proud because I feel blessed to have experienced this indescribable opportunity. I got a call from our program officer a few weeks ago amidst the lockdown due to the covid-19 pandemic. It was a calming conversation where she only contacted me to know how my family and I were doing and we discussed coronavirus in depth so I could understand it better. I felt relieved and relaxed to the extent that I found myself sharing with her my challenges. The only income we had was from my husband’s piece jobs in fixing cars, but it has been difficult coping since we have no income whatsoever during this hard time. I am 24 and got married in 2017. I live with my parents-in-law, brother-in-law, my husband and our 1 year and 8 months old baby girl.
A few days ago I got another call and the program officer informed me to come receive a food package consisting of maize meal, soap, sugar beans, sugar, cooking oil, split peas, green lentils, salt, matches, candles, Vaseline, paraffin, oranges, apples, airtime, a mask and sanitary kit. I could not contain my excitement nor wait to get home and share with my family the grace that had fell upon us. I wholeheartedly appreciate the mercy Help Lesotho has shown us. I am capacitated not only with tangible items but information that helps my sanity and health stability.
Though we missed some of the monthly trainings during the lockdown, I treasure the discussions we had that built me into the woman I am inspired to become. Thank you Help Lesotho!”
August 21, 2020:
Lesotho was one of the last countries in the world to get their first positive COVID-19 test. Sadly, the rate of infection is climbing steadily and there are now over 1,000 confirmed cases in the country. Testing numbers are still low however the rate of positive tests of those who get tested is shockingly high at between 7-10%. The country has introduced a prevention and response strategy that restricts gathering sizes and duration, but businesses (and NGOs!) are allowed to operate (unlike during the earlier lockdown). Today the government announced that schools will reopen for specific grades in the coming weeks.
Help Lesotho’s staff are providing support to help people cope with the anticipatory anxiety that many are feeling. We continue to provide COVID-19 related education at all possible opportunities. UNICEF recently provided funding for us to create and print a booklet for young mothers to help them make the best choices they can during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and caring for young children.
At Help Lesotho, we are doing our best to resume programming that meets the government’s guidelines. It is far from ideal, but our staff and beneficiaries understand the need to protect one another while continuing to build skills for a brighter future.
July 20, 2020:
Lesotho has re-entered a country-wide lock-down after reporting nearly 400 coronavirus cases. Health officials have confirmed there is community spreading, and is urging Basotho to avoid any sort of gatherings (including weddings and funerals), and prohibiting unnecessary movements across districts (except emergencies). The borders between Lesotho and South Africa are now closed.
In order to keep one another safe, it’s imperative to wash your hands, wear a mask and abide by social-distancing rules.
April 22, 2020:
Lesotho’s first lock-down lasted from March 29 to May 6. And was originally lifted after reporting zero cases of the virus. In April, the country able to set up its own testing facility (previously all tests needed to be sent to South Africa).
Basotho are terrified, burdened with the still open wounds from the horrors of the AIDS pandemic. Among the salient factors are: inadequate national health services, small crowded homes, loss of jobs in an abject poverty context, increases in isolation, domestic violence, and sex-trade activities for girls and women who cannot feed themselves or their children, virus myths and misinformation, and the fear of death of those with severely compromised immune systems.
Our work over the last 16 years has rebuilt hundreds of rural community support networks for our youth, grandmothers, young mothers and herd boys to replace those fractured or completely destroyed by death, fear and discrimination from the HIV/AIDS pandemic since in the 1990’s. During this time of uncertainty, we are developing alternative plans to continue to bolster these community networks so they are strengthened rather than diminished by this new virus threat.
OUR RESPONSE
Help Lesotho staff are disseminating factual information about the virus, clarifying protective measures of social distancing, hand-washing, and strategies to help citizens keep their immune systems strong;
staff also developed an COVID-19 information sheet in Sesotho;
our two community centres are now closed to limit exposure from congregating;
staff are united and committed to exploring innovative ways to keep in touch with their participants;
our Country Director, Shadrack, has evacuated to Kenya to be with his family, and works from home there. Supervisors are working remotely while still supporting their staff, tracking issues and beneficiary contacts, identifying patterns, etc.;
Lesotho staff continue their weekly meetings on Tuesdays via Skype to remain focused, motivated and in close contact. They will have access to real-time information to disseminate to beneficiaries;
before the lockdown, food parcels were delivered to our grandmothers in Berea and Pitseng;
we have operationalized a communications plan and support materials through which our program staff are reaching out to deliver psychosocial support to strengthen the hundreds of village support networks we have developed over the last decade;
we have enhanced mechanisms to provide staff with airtime to hotspot their computers as none have internet at home to work remotely;
we have set up WhatsApp groups of thousands of beneficiaries for positive messaging, information sharing and crisis management;
we’ve worked to refresh our beneficiary database of 3,000+ cell phone contacts, identifying the most vulnerable in each program group for priority contacting and schedules of contacts by phone, text, etc. These are adapted to those who have smart phones, non-smart phones (no apps) and those who have no phones, radios or other forms of information or who are illiterate. The latter group includes many of our grandmothers. For these individuals, we will try to reach their relatives;
developed and operationalized messaging for staff to manage these communications, including phone scripts, Q&As on the virus, strategies for handling stress, fear, depression, communicating with children, and domestic communications under stress. We are identifying those households that may be perilous for girls and women as domestic violence tends to increase under stress; and
all staff have been sent home with large quantities of COVID-19 information sheets, one pagers on various issues (human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, anger management, communication, decision making, peer pressure, etc.), our booklets on pre-and post-natal care, sexual and reproductive health, etc. We have printed thousands of copies and each staff will use them as references and will distribute them (while practicing social distancing). The guard houses at each Centre have copies to freely give out; and
Canadian staff are all working remotely, where we continue to adapt and support from our homes.
Lesotho staff distribute information sheets on COVID-19, while practicing social distancing.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Help us with our cash flow: After building up this organization from nothing, we want to preserve and support our highly trained staff over this difficult period, who have no government support benefits such as unemployment insurance or government bailouts. If you can help us continue to keep paying our local staff and keeping the lights on, it would be most appreciated. Of course, all our budgeted spring fundraising events and plans are now aborted. We appreciate a one-time donation but if you feel you can start a monthly donation, this will give us the predictable revenue needed to enable us to continue planning our interventions for the immediate and long term periods.
Encourage our staff and beneficiaries: If you would like to write a note of appreciate or support to our beneficiaries and/or staff, please do – it would mean the world to them. You can send that to info@helplesotho.org and we will distribute.