Fall is closing in upon us here (remember, Lesotho is in the southern hemisphere!). Nights grow colder; mornings and evenings are fresh. Anticipation of the bitterness of winter peppers conversations. In this final letter from my season in Lesotho, there is so much to share with you.
Bidding farewell to our second group of donors was rather sad. Their thoughtful, fulfilling conversations on international development and our programs will be missed. Although from different locations, each arrived with a special connection to Lesotho. They were lots of fun and a pleasure to watch in their delight at learning and engaging with our beneficiaries and staff.
One consistent highlight was the hour horse ride up the mountain to Majara Primary School. Thankfully, teachers have returned to school across the country after the teacher strike. The government has committed to finding a resolution so we are hopeful that the schools will remain open for the duration of the school year.
The little children put on various activities for us, including the traditional ‘Mohebo’ women’s dance. As they performed, my attention was captivated by an adolescent girl sitting up on the hill mimicking each movement and mouthing the words to the music. I wondered if she had been one of the girls in this dance when she was in primary school. I imagine that she didn’t have the school fees to enroll in high school…or at least not the funds to pay for accommodation because the nearest school is three hours away. She knew the dances, but now she has nowhere to dance.
I was taken aback when the children performed a short play about how Help Lesotho started. One little girl played the role of me as a professor – in very high heels and a fancy printed dress. Her four students introduced themselves – one from China, one from India, one from somewhere else and one from Lesotho – Sister Alice Mputsoe. No Canadian students! In the drama, I asked Sr. Alice if I could come and visit her country! We have almost completed fundraising to build two new classrooms for the school – they are in dire need. Thanks to a few generous donors, we are only $5,000 from our goal of $35,000. This new building will replace the horrible, draconian classrooms these dear children try so hard to learn in. In the worst one, 47 children cram into the dark and damp little room.
A highlight for all was our visit to the herd boys. In a recent mapping we did, we found that 10% of the population of this entire district is herd boys! It is beyond touching to see these boys and young men open up and feel ‘seen’ in the world. They were incredulous when I told them that it is a woman who has paid for their program. For boys who have never known the tenderness of a mother’s love, this seemed profoundly meaningful and many eyes filled with tears.
Six months ago, we asked them if they would like a hygiene kit – soap, underwear and the like. They refused, firmly believing that if they were too clean, their employers would think they were not doing their jobs. Now, after the training and their new role as peer educators and communicators with local leaders, they had a change of heart. One boy tentatively enquired if they could have soap – now that they were meeting the community and were of importance. When asked if they wanted some laundry soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, the room burst out in cheers! Imagine youth being excited about soap! With encouragement, another said: “Even though we are only herd boys, could we have a ball so we could have some fun”. ‘M’e Sheryl’s mother had given her some money to meet just such a need so we committed to go directly to the warehouse and purchase three soccer balls and the rest of the supplies. I cannot tell you how happy it made us all that we could just say YES and let those boys have a few basics to feel clean and special. None of us will ever forget.
We then visited our young mothers in the same area. Again, when I told those young girls that two women have provided the funds for their program, one would have thought I had given them a real mother! Those who provided the funds are not organizations but rather real, compassionate women who share what they have so these girls can have a chance to raise their little ones. The girls happily reported that they are now taking care of themselves by drinking lots of water and caring for their little ones by reading to their babies and actively playing with them.
The Young Mother Program Officer, ‘M’e Shasha, reports that their village support networks are working well, citing the example of the girls contributing R5 (CAD 50 cents) to pay hospital fees for a baby who got burned because the mother could not afford the transport to take her baby to a hospital. Another group bought a few groceries for one of the mothers whose husband passed away. They are sharing what they learn with other pregnant women in their village. ‘M’e Shasha said: “One group had a big smile when describing how they were sharing stress management tips with other members. They all laughed with excitement which is rare from women who are so vulnerable. We were proud.”
The young mothers wanted me to thank the people who bought them the baby bags. Girls here use plastic bags from the grocery store to carry their baby things and as liners for the children’s diapers – which may be rags. They use torn pieces of blankets to warm their babies. Receiving the baby bags went a long way in raising their confidence and hope for their children. Each lovely new baby bag contains a blanket, three previously unaffordable diaper waterproofs, and a few other supplies. These incredibly poor young mothers could not hide their big smiles because they can now attend the baby clinic appointments and church with pride. It takes so little!
Our longtime supporter, Tessa Bell, secured funding from her Rotary Club of Lantzville Society on Vancouver Island for a Teacher Training Project for 40 teachers which was successfully completed a couple of weeks ago. The teachers are overwhelmed with the demands of the curriculum and the needs of their students. They were appreciative for the help to learn some solid strategies and pedagogical approaches.
Months ago, I heard from a former sponsored student alumnus, Mamokete from Thaba Tseka, who is completing her degree in Pretoria. She wrote to say the alumni want to hold a huge celebration next year during my visit to thank Help Lesotho for being their family and supporting them to grow up to be responsible, healthy adults – and that they would pay for it themselves. This is my dream – to get as many of the 40,000 graduates of our intensive programs together so that they will realize what a force they are in the country. I would love to see so many again and for them to mobilize for social change. Mid-February 2020 – stay tuned.
A couple of messages I received this week:
“I have never experienced the love between a parent and a child, but then my granny was always around trying to make me feel welcomed and wanted”.
“I used to feel so down when people judge me or remind me of my downfalls and tell me I could not make it because I failed so many times in the past. But at Help Lesotho, I have learned that it takes courage to bounce back as long as I identify my fears and work on them. Indeed, I will make it. I want to make sure that I transfer this knowledge to other people in my community and to people who have lost hope in life because of their downfalls. I will encourage them and tell them that is not the end, that life goes on and our challenges don’t determine who we are. Fighting to bounce back determines how powerful we are. I really have learned so much about this topic and appreciate it.”
And finally, one very sweet message from one of our CHANGE4ce new graduates – Thato:
“Help Lesotho has made me to believe in myself and be a good leader. I developed change in each and every day. Help Lesotho is the smartest most innovative most consciences people on the area of Lesotho. My heartfelt gratitude to all Help Lesotho staff members for the energy, innovation and patient focus they bring to this necessary and ongoing task. I will be driven by a purpose to improve the quality of life for every person I meet.”
As I leave, I remain aware that in this incredibly picturesque land, filled of beautiful people, it is not always easy to ‘see’ the suffering. A constant diet of starch fills the crevices of the bodies; a polite, gentle spirit hides so many sorrows. In a country named the most-unhealthy in the world, scarred with thousands of deaths of loved ones – the mistrust of life and the fear for survival are the deep, invisible wounds that fester and limit potential. One must never mistake the easy laughs and brilliant smiles for happiness. They are the remnants of a distant memory of a wholesome society – before AIDS, drought and debilitating devastation of the familial structures and social orders. Not all wounds bleed.
THREE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP
For those asking how to help, here are three ways you, your families or colleagues can support the work.
1.Centre Competitions on Cognitive Games: As you know, cognitive development, with psychosocial support, is the underpinning of all our programs. We have initiated competitions between children in our two centres on four games that promote critical thinking: Chess, Scrabble, Monopoly and Cribbage. This has been such fun and the children are captivated, motivated and constantly practicing. Children as young as seven are joining in. This gives them purpose and a concentrated break from their concerns. Each quarter, children from one centre go to the other for a Saturday competition. Local children and youth crowd around to follow each move. We are seeking funding to expand and improve these quarterly competitions to 240 competitors a year and cover proper trophies to be displayed at the winning centre; educational rewards for the winners (flash cards, coloured pencils, etc.); transport for 30 students to the opposing centre (60 qualifying students in each competition) 50 minutes away and lunch for the competitors. The transport and food are the most significant costs. This will motivate, entertain and improve the learning of hundreds of children a year. Cost: $2,500 per year
2. Staff Capacity Building: To address the need for constant training for our staff and professional interns, we have developed a simple online learning management system (LMS) to move learners through short, motivating courses. Two of the five levels are complete and we need funds to hire some help to complete the plan for a total of 200 courses in finance, admin, program delivery, psychosocial support and management. It is hard with such a small staff to develop everything ourselves and with help, we could finish this in a year. I see this as key to our sustainability and standardization of program quality for the next decade. We have a proposal ready – so please ask if this is something you can help with. Cost:$19,750
3. Best Way to Help: Become a Monthly Donor:We plan a year ahead. We are currently developing our July 2019-June 2020 budget. Becoming a monthly donor or increasing your monthly donation allows us to plan more effectively and efficiently to use your heard-earned money wisely.
I started Letter #1 eleven weeks ago reflecting on our 15 years of delivering programs in Lesotho. I end this final letter with a huge amount of optimism. We have exciting new projects in our next three years’ strategic plan. We have achieved our objective to create a critical mass of young people who can change the country. We have all the love and goodwill needed to mobilize them.
On behalf of each beneficiary, staff and community member – thank you so very much for joining us on this journey. We all need to know that good things are possible. We are on it – on your behalf.
Please keep in touch and I hope to connect with you again soon.
The roosters are creating a racket. Cow bells on the sheep clang as the flock grazes the field. Staff sing as they enter the Centre – absently, lovely. A new day dawns. The fruit from the peach trees we planted nine years ago have ripened and been immediately picked by the children. Not a single one is left – just as we planned so long ago. Summer is delayed because the rains were tragically late this year. Up in the mountains, there is no corn on many of the stocks. Much of the seeds in our grannies’ gardens died in the dry soil. Second plantings of vegetables will ripen but harvest for the winter will be sparse. The late greening of the land is encouraging though and most welcome.
Finally, the cosmos have bloomed!
We were thrilled to host our newest board member, Thabang Mashologu, his wife Sarah and their two adorable sons, for a couple of days last week. Thabang is from Lesotho but did all his degrees in Canada, fell in love with a Canadian westerner and has been living in Canada since. It is exciting and so helpful to have a Mosotho on the board who knows both countries well and has many contacts in Lesotho. It really is essential to come and see our work, so we appreciate him taking time from his family visit to spend with us here.
Marlene Caicco, our Donor Relations Manager, arrived for her first visit to Lesotho and it is wonderful to have her. She stayed at the Pitseng Centre for the weekend and is experiencing as much as she can of all our programs and people. She will have lots of stories to share. She is writing a blog and posting videos if you want to follow along.
Our second donor trip guests arrived and are enthusiastically meeting staff and beneficiaries. Only two knew each other beforehand. Susan Hendry (Utah) was a US Peace Corp member in Lesotho forty years ago; Deb Ruse (Kingston, ON) is a committed member of the Kingston Grandmother Connection; Jean Ahlgren (Fredericton, NB) and her late husband, John, have been loving supporters for a decade; Hilary Barrett (McDonald Corners, ON) has a long family history in Africa; Katie Hellyer (Toronto, ON) is a member of the Audrey Hellyer Family Foundation Board which has supported us for a decade; Sheryl Selwyn (Chelsea, QC/New Zealand) has been such a faithful support to me and the organization since it began; Margaret Hughes’ (Kingston, ON) late husband’s family has a long history in Lesotho; and Shelagh M’Gonigle (Ottawa, ON) is a former board member and huge advocate for Help Lesotho since the beginning. Each one has a special connection to Lesotho and to us. Each one is delighted to be here and a pleasure to host. We leave for a few days up in the mountains today.
Many times each day I am taken aside by a participant or send a note. Our beneficiaries are bursting to share their growth. Words pale in describing how much these program mean to them. I want to share one of the messages from a deeply wounded young woman who was raped twice and victimized for years:
Today we talked about values. Honesty is the value that I like most in my life. I always bear this saying in mind: “only the truth shall set me free.” People sometimes get the wrong impression based on my behavior and my attitude towards them. After the session, I was able to work on my personality and behaviour, and now I can see a difference in myself. It really feels like there’s a root that is growing inside my body. Now I am able to communicate. It was hard for me at first but now it feels like I am used to communicating. I was able to share my personal problems with ‘M’e Peg and that was my first time sharing with anyone. And after sharing I felt so relieved – although it happened years ago – but after sharing I was able to grieve again. Now I am able to share this information with others so that they will be able to be true to themselves, be aware of themselves, to think about their thoughts and express their feelings, and to develop trust and the power of knowledge. And they may be able to build their own healthy boundaries. This place has played an important role in my life. I can feel the change and am proud of being me.
What a brave young woman!
Lest the image of gender-based violence seems vague, I am including one photo I took of another young woman. We all work tirelessly to end such abuse.
One of our donors has generous provided the funds to put a roof on both of our computer container labs. We have worried that the flat roof on the metal containers will rust and compromise the valuable computers inside. As is the case here, it has taken a long time but it is indeed happening.
One of our guests last month was so taken with the worn-out state of the cooking implements that our cook, ‘M’e Muntja, was using to provide meals for hundreds of people that she sent the most exciting group of supplies – to ‘M’e’s delight and surprise.
The schools are still closed with the teacher strike and our two Centres are overwhelmed with children playing and students in the libraries – such happy sounds. Little ones are practicing chess, scrabble and monopoly for the Centre competitions. It is a busy place.
We all feel it is an enormous privilege to be here!
My time will come to a close in the next weeks and there is still so much to do. I will send one more letter but know that I am thinking of you … often and with fond gratitude.
Out my window I see three shepherds watching their flocks in torrents of rain, their heads covered with what we call balaclavas; their bodies by the traditional Basotho blanket. My heart goes out to them. I spent a morning with some of the herd boys in our program recently and feel such compassion for these boys relegated to such solitude and loneliness. More on that later.
Teachers have been on strike. After a three-week walk-out, schools will now be open for one week and closed for three in a rotating cycle until their grievances are addressed. As well as extremely low salaries, not paying principals (one principal told me she has been ‘acting’ principal for 15 years without compensation as well as teaching a full load) and not paying pensions, one of the contentions is the government’s failure to pay primary schools the M20 (CAD $2) per student per year they are allotted. The schools have no resources to continue. One is incredulous that children’s education in primary school is worth $2/child a year. For high school, the costs to the guardians, parents and grannies are nigh impossible.
With little or no income, these ‘guardians of the future of Lesotho’ have to find the funds to pay for medications, too many burials, schools fees, and the normal costs of living. They are eternally overwhelmed.
Our first donor trip guests have left after a wonderful visit. They were so appreciative, engaged and lovely to host. They want to come back!!! It is encouraging to have such talented, interested advocates. They spent all their time with our local staff and beneficiaries and were constantly and deeply touched by the need and the profound impact our programs have. Because of the internal coherence within and across our programs, all beneficiaries have the same vocabulary and concepts to talk about their challenges and strategies. This creates a foundation for family and community communication that is desperately needed to address these complex, emotionally-laden topics.
I am sure they would agree that one of the most impactful experiences here is attending a grief and loss session. Out of these fine, lovely participants pours a depth of suffering, abandonment and pain that is both crushing and desperately sad. To be a witnesses to the burden of this kind of devastation – pummeled on an entire population – one becomes overwhelmed themselves. Wrenching tears, confessions of misery and suicidal thoughts, terrible loneliness and loss – it is a graphic display of how much this country needs to heal from. Yet, watching them express, discuss and find really helpful strategies to address their pain is so positive and strengthening. To visibly see people heal in front of you is astounding. You may find this hyperbolic but I assure you it is not. This session is consistently one of the top favourites of all groups and ages of participants since 2006.
Our guests had so many incredible experiences but one they will never forget was an hour horse-back ride to a small – very small – and very poor school up in the mountains.
Majara has 153 students in three tiny, broken, stone classrooms. Because it is impossible to imagine unless you go there, I take guests as it demonstrates beyond anything I could ever say how isolated, poor and courageous these little schools are. Last year one of our guests was so touched that she bought hats, mitts and socks for the children just before the bitter winter. She has provided a generous donation again this year to do something special for them.
The school, Majara, had seven students last year who graduated from grade seven. Almost no one from this remote village has ever entertained the notion of being able to get an education beyond grade 7. Through our Child Sponsorship Program we are paying the school fees for two of these students. Hallelujah!!!!
We had the most wonderful visit with herd boys I have ever had. These boys had been in our program for six months already and now are doing community service to teach other herd boys about sexual health and gender based violence. The boys were so honoured and excited to have international guests visit them – to be seen – to be heard. They told us of their training. They danced and sang for us. It was inspiring and so much fun. We were all in tears.
We went from there to visit some of our grannies in their village. These dear souls are completing their two-year program cycle and thrilled that their grandsons, the very herd boys we just met, have had training in how to communicate, problem solve, and practice healthy hygiene. Almost before we got out of the trucks, they were bursting to thank Help Lesotho for helping these previously unmanageable boys to grow up and become aware of needs and rights of girls and women – including them!!!! They shared how much the boys had changed and how much this changes their lives – one less burden. It reinforced the impact of training various populations within the same villages at the same time. It meant so much to hear them so happy. I worry about them more often than I will admit.
I have been giving training sessions for our staff, professional interns and the CHANGE4ce trainees I spoke of in my first letter. I admire their openness to struggle to understand themselves, life and healthy ways to support others in their growth.
Tomorrow I will welcome our new board member, Ntate Thabang Mashologu, his wife Sarah and their two young sons. Thabang and Sarah recently moved from Toronto to Ottawa and we are very excited to have him on the board. As a Canadian/Basotho, he will be a huge help. Also coming on Monday is Help Lesotho’s Donor Relations Manager, Marlene Caicco, whom you may know. This is Marlene’s first time to Lesotho and she is so excited.
I want to give a shout out to my dear friend Elizabeth May, leader of the Canadian Green Party, for choosing Help Lesotho has one of her three favourite charities for donations in lieu of gifts in honour of her upcoming wedding. It is beyond touching. She has been an unfailing support since the first month this whole thing started. Bless her heart. I am thrilled she and John found each other.
In closing, I have two things I ask you to do to help us right now:
The first is about our very special grandmother program. For the last three years, funding has been steadily decreasing. The entire program relies 100% on the donations from individuals and our grandmother groups, especially the Kingston Grandmother Connection and Grandmothers Helping Grandmothers in Fredericton. Last year, we had to cut several elements from the program to make ends meet. If this touches your heart, could you either increase your donations for this program or help us reach out to others who might? Everyone here sends their thanks for anything you can do to augment the revenue for these dear souls to get the support they need. We are starting a new group of 200 grannies in the program in June/July. It is my hope to raise at least $50,000 before then to ensure this new group of 200 grandmothers can have the full program. Please consider giving so these special grandmothers can get psychosocial support, the exact information they need to improve their health and family’s nutrition, seeds for their gardens, strategies to raise the orphans in their care, help to get registered as a ‘person’ with the government so they can receive their pensions, and the opportunity to build a support network in their villages. Believe me – we are all these women have; and
The second ask is that you help us raise awareness of our work by:
Clicking the SHARE button on our Facebook posts – especially my letters;
Forward my letters to colleagues, friends and family;
Write a note on your social media platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp) to encourage your friends to join our social media or visit our website (provide links)
Your support has not only changed tens of thousands of lives in Lesotho, but mine as well. Thank you so very much.
Dawn is breaking as I write. The chorus of birds outside in the massive eucalyptus tree are particularly keen to announce the day! I got up especially early today to wash my hair while hot water was available. We got a notice that the power will be out all day. It is rare to get a notice – usually, it just stops! In the last six weeks we have had enough rain to green up the land and build hope for some kind of harvest. Climate change has wreaked havoc with sub-Saharan Africa. There are long periods of drought, killing the expensive seedlings. Rain comes late in the season, if at all, and barely fills the rivers with enough water to service its people. Many villages are without water for months – even the capital city.
Last week I picked up our donor trip guests from the airport. This is Jennifer Parr’s eighth visit to Lesotho! She has been such a valuable supporter in so many ways, including chairing our Board for ten years. Susan Richardson is here for the second time and the others are welcomed to Lesotho for their first: Erika Seguin, Susan Shackell, Linda Jamieson, Kathleen Flynn, Johanne Seguin and Nives Mion.
They have all been such good sports – the first day – no electricity or water! Each one is keen to explore every opportunity. They are flexible and compassionate.
I end with a quote from a local woman after seeing the fabulous but realistic GIRL4ce performance to end child early and force marriage and gender-based violence. It is but one indicator of the incredible and imperative impact your donations are making.
“Really I did not know there are such laws that protect our girls from being victimized of child early and forced marriage as it is a norm in our village. Hence I am very glad that every member of our village is here to grasp the information.”
I drove to Maseru to meet with UNICEF on a project they are funding and to have a lovely visit with their majesties Queen ‘Masenate and King Letsie III. It is always a pleasure to chat with them about our work and the needs of the Basotho.
Our plans to hold a teacher training conference this coming week have been thwarted by a teachers’ strike. The working conditions for teachers are very difficult. With so many orphans, teachers are now surrogate parents, socializers, health educators about HIV/AIDS, on top of their normal responsibilities. Many live in substandard housing on the site of the schools – often far from their families and amenities. Issues of reliable and fair payment are always an issue here.
I did a 90-minute session for the opening day of the Leaders-in-Training program. I love having time to talk to the youth – that is my favourite thing. On their first day, they are unsure what this is – how can it be that discussions will be open and frank about the topics that trouble their young hearts to the point of depression and often suicidal thoughts? How is it that there is no criticism or judgement? Why did someone not help me before this? If I had known all this as a child, I would have made better choices.
The level of activity here would surprise you. Staff are constantly out in the field – in the far mountains training herd boys, in almost impossible to reach villages training young mothers, organizing GIRL4ce performances to end early and forced child marriage and gender based violence, and going up-and-down between granny huts making sure they are all right and have the support they need. They are the most caring staff you can imagine – thoughtful, positive, and totally committed to their populations. Although we have the two Centres, the majority of our work is out in the villages.
We rotate the villages where we work. One of our strategic decisions was to move into a fourth district, Berea. We have been investigating a particular area, its needs and possibilities. We only work in areas where the local chiefs and councils are supportive and participatory. We will compound our impact by doing many interventions in a more concentrated geographical catchment. To this end, ‘M’e Mampaka and I went to do additional reconnaissance. It is often difficult for me to go places as that raises local expectations that something is going to happen, but I wanted to see it for myself. We went unannounced. In the area under consideration – there is a tarred road the whole way – I was shocked. This would be the first! The valley is more fertile than other areas as the mountains catch the rain there. We drove around and then spent 45 minutes with the local mid-wife and nurse at the clinic. The village has a clinic, a Catholic Mission and church, a high school and a primary school. The closest police are 35 minutes away. There are no jobs. Youth stand in small groups near the road. The nurse tells us that there is a very high incidence of sexual violence, that the men like to fight, that there are so many orphans and an unusually high percentage are HIV positive. We spoke to local women – they are the ones who truly know the issues their community is facing. We heard stories of vulnerability that would make you weep and are actually too delicate for me to write about.
One of those lovely women came to tell us that one of our tires was entirely flat – undoubtedly due to the sharp rocks on one particular road we travelled after turning off the tarred road. Yikes! The truck I drove that day was massive and there was no way I was going to change a tire on it! Long story short – after a significant delay in the hot sun, our driver Ntate Motsamai, came to rescue us. In all the thousands of kilometers I have driven and in the most remote and dangerous mountain roads here, this was my first flat tire! I was so glad we were within cell range!
Last week I picked up our donor trip guests from the airport. This is Jennifer Parr’s eighth visit to Lesotho! She has been such a valuable supporter in so many ways, including chairing our Board for ten years. Susan Richardson is here for the second time and the others are welcomed to Lesotho for their first: Erika Seguin, Susan Shackell, Linda Jamieson, Kathleen Flynn, Johanne Seguin and Nives Mion.
They have all been such good sports – the first day – no electricity or water! Each one is keen to explore every opportunity. They are flexible and compassionate.
I end with a quote from a local woman after seeing the fabulous but realistic GIRL4ce performance to end child early and force marriage and gender-based violence. It is but one indicator of the incredible and imperative impact your donations are making.
“Really I did not know there are such laws that protect our girls from being victimized of child early and forced marriage as it is a norm in our village. Hence I am very glad that every member of our village is here to grasp the information.”
While many of you deal with unusual amounts of snow and cold, it is gloriously sunny here about 25-28 degrees C with occasional, fierce storms. The rain in the past three or four weeks has replenished the soul and encouraged the farmers that their crops may have a chance to ripen.
Our Quarterly Staff Meeting this week had much to celebrate. Six received Loyalty Plaques. It was lovely to recall their time with us, their growth and enormous contributions.
Left to right: Beside me is Ntate Peter, the security guard from the Pitseng Centre, who received his 10-Year Plaque. He welcomes all our visitors, and protects our property, children and staff with the biggest smile you have ever seen. Beside him, ‘M’e Mampaka received her 10-Year Plaque. ‘M’e managed our Child Sponsorship Program for many years and is now managing the Grandmother Program and the sponsored children in Thaba Tseka.
The rest received their Five-Year Plaques. First is our Hlotse gardener, Ntate Thabo, who keeps our Centre a beautiful sanctuary with love and care. Next is ‘M’e Shasha, who runs our programs for young mothers and adolescent girls. Those girls are so lucky to have her. Ntate Sello lovingly and so effectively supervises the Herd Boy Program, Leadership in Training, Camps and other programs. Beside him is ‘M’e Thato, who does a fabulous job supervising both our Centres, the Professional Internship Program, programs for girls and women and the Computer and Life Skills Program. And finally, Ntate Shadrack Mutembei, who has guided, encouraged and cared deeply for our staff and programs for nearly eight years. He is a wonderful leader and we are blessed to have him.
Then it was time to celebrate Help Lesotho’s 15th Anniversary. You may remember our celebration for the 5th Anniversary in huge style with a five-day visit to Canada from King Letsie III and a wonderful celebration in Lesotho. We celebrated our 10th Anniversary with a very special five-day visit to Canada by Queen Masenate and Princess Senate. This 15th Anniversary is modest due to cost constraints but celebrate it we did none-the-less and we will continue to do so throughout the year. It was fun to reminisce over the past years. In the past 15 years, 180,000 people have benefitted and 40,000 have graduated from our intensive programs. Hundreds of volunteers have helped us and thousands of donors have believed enough in our work to be faithful partners in its sustainability.
The staff did a beautiful song and dance for me and made a VERY special book. Each staff wrote a page – the whole occasion was emotional for us all. I was brought to tears several times. I feel overwhelmed at the love and passion our staff and beneficiaries have for Help Lesotho – it is a gift beyond my wildest dreams.
We had a huge cake and lots of hugs.
On my flight here from Johannesburg, I sat beside the Deputy Minister of Health, ‘M’e Pholheli. We had a marvelous visit and she promised to come to the Centre. As those who follow me on Twitter know, she came on Friday and brought the head of health for Adolescent Girls, ‘M’e Nkuatsana. High rates of early and forced child marriage, gender-based violence, infant and maternal mortality and HIV transmission among this population are at critical proportions. They have huge responsibilities. They were both truly interested and supportive in learning more about our Young Mothers Program.
After touring the Centre, we drove north about 90 minutes on rugged dirt roads to visit one of our young mother groups. These girls are remote and vulnerable.
They are so young! It was lovely to see how clean the babies were and how attentive these young mothers were to them. I counted about 42 girls in the tiny room loaned to the program by the local council.
One young girl was so motivated by the program that she reached beyond her painfully shy personality to start a netball team of other young girls as a forum to share information she learned at Help Lesotho trainings, as a way to empower others who are not lucky enough to be in the program to face their challenges and make healthy decisions. Her team has had several competitions and benefit from the exercise. She was clear that the sexual reproductive health information enabled her to seek services and make informed decisions.
On Saturday mornings, there are mostly boys at the Centre – scores of them. This Saturday was a good example. I counted 40-45 boys, which is the norm. There were exciting games and Valentine Crafts. The little girls are home working: cleaning, washing, sweeping since dawn, so few girls can come. After lunch, the girls start arriving, clearly tired from their chores and so hoping they have not missed everything while the boys played.
Please stay warm and know that you are making a huge difference in the lives of so many people.
Another year begins and another sojourn in Lesotho. You might be surprised to know that this is Letter #119 from Lesotho! I find that incredible. For those who are new to these, I write letters only when in Lesotho to share my experiences and observations, our impact and challenges.
The Help Lesotho office and large leadership centre is stationed 90 minutes north-east of the only city in the country, the capital of Maseru, where the land begins to rise toward the mountains. From this location, we are able to reach tens of thousands of people in rural and isolated areas.
This is the view looking toward the mountains from where I stay as I wake and as I sleep.
I have been here for a week. Our amazing part-time CFO, Lesley Griffiths, was here when I arrived, ensuring our accountability standards and processes are where we need them to be. She has now returned to Canada. The Aeroplan miles you donate are used for such trips. Thank you for those.
I went to get my groceries yesterday. The predictable crowd was there sitting on the hot concrete anguishing in the blazing sun all day, waiting in hope that a relative abroad, one with a job, had sent a transfer through the money market – something to allow them to buy groceries too.
As I sat to write, I watched an old woman walk past in the field. She had a faded, thick and heavy beige blanket on in this 28-degree weather. Peeking out of the top of the blanket on her back was the head of a child, perhaps a year old. The stoop of her shoulders cradled the child’s body. On the woman’s head was a large basket brimming with supplies. By the care with which she walked, I imagined that it contained something important or necessary but heavy. My heart reached out to her – a visual symbol of burden. I don’t know how far she had to walk but, given her direction, it would be quite a way. The weight of the blankets, the basket and the toddler seemed overbearing. While I cannot know the emotional burdens she carried as well, I can well imagine. She is one of the reasons we are here – to lift those burdens in as many ways as we can.
This weekend was a training at the Centre for our Pearl Program. Many of you generously purchase our Pearls4Girls jewelry (https://www.pearls4girls.org ) – well, this is one of the programs those purchases support. The girls are in grade seven (the last year of primary school) and grade eight (first year of high school). They learn about their bodies, how to protect themselves, grief and loss, how to communicate, study skills and topics adolescent girls need – self-esteem, sexual and reproductive health, goal-setting, etc. I joined them for a day – they are just adorable and so keen. We have 162 girls in the program this year and are grateful to the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives from the High Commission in Pretoria who provided funding to extend the program beyond one year.
For years now, various organizations have wanted to learn our facilitation and program methods and strategies. We have developed a new social enterprise to address this, called CHANGE4ce. This allows us to train others to facilitate these deeply emotional and integrated topics. Those who are ‘local’ in southern Africa can come to our two and a half-month Leadership-in-Training Program and receive specialized training. Next week our first three organizations are sending people: Bountiful Hope Foundation and the Mennonite Central Committee are each sending one staff from other parts of Lesotho; Sawubona, from north-east of Pretoria, is sending three.
Thank you for reading, for caring and for walking this journey with me. Over the next couple of months, I will be hosting 24-25 international guests, visiting programs up in the mountains, listening deeply to our impact and the need and working on new programs and initiatives.
