Housing hope in Lesotho

Driven by dual epidemics of HIV and tuberculosis, the orphan rate in the southern African country of Lesotho is the highest in the world. Nearly one out of every three children in Lesotho has lost one or both parents. In October 2008, we reported on five such orphans. All of these children had lost both parents, and had no one to care for them--no home, no one to provide food or clothing, no guardians.

Dr. Hind Satti of PIH Lesotho recalled the first time she met three of the children—sisters: "It was painful to see them, the wind was so freezing, they were so hungry... [Their clothes] hardly covered their little bodies." PIH Lesotho provided the sisters with a new home, a new mother, and the means to attend school—the key to a healthy, productive future.

Today, the children—the three sisters plus another brother and sister—are all still living together with their adopted mother, M'e Leomile, and still in school. Because of the months of school time they had missed while trying just to survive and care for ailing parents, all initially struggled to keep up on the classroom. Of the two eldest, only one has progressed to the next grade level. The other is still working to catch up on her basic reading and math skills. But all the children are beginning to realize the bright future in their grasp.

"I want to be a school principal when I grow up!" Tselane, a bubbly 9-year-old, recently asserted. Her siblings quickly chimed in, breathlessly sharing their ambitions of becoming nurses, teachers, and even a policewoman. M'e Leomile beamed as proudly as any mother would, and began preparing one of their favorite lunches--split pea soup.

Read more at http://bit.ly/5Dubwx

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Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Lesotho
• orphans
• HIV
• AIDS
• TB
• Tuberculosis
• MDR-TB
• Partners In Health
• PIH