We sat in the sun on the deck of a second story café overlooking the mountains of Lesotho waiting for the Ficksburg Cherry Festival to blossom. Last night’s rains had vanished off of the horizon. Jean and I waded through a 3 month working implementation plan for The G.R.O. Artisans Collective while ‘Me Mathabang and ‘Me Mamabula greeted the few interested customers slowly circling amidst the funky rusted garden of Di Blek Plik Café. The new display trees complimented the Afrikaaner decorative metal works while simultaneously setting their colourful beadwork apart from the rest of the grounds.

The moment brought back a piece of wisdom that both Josh Berman and G.R.O.’s James White, two good friends managing local health initiatives at Motebang Hospital in Leribe, that one of the necessary goals of development work is to forge ahead with making your position obsolete. Here I sat working through a business plan which included the hire of a local Collective Coordinator to assist Jean and fill the advisory position I have been proud to hold since late May. Over the next few months the mothers will be moving office to a space twice the size, looking to more than double the number of members from four to ten, develop and launch a new product line sourcing locally recycled and higher end materials, on top of the addition of a managing Coordinator.

With the windfall of changes and growth fast approaching the Bo ‘Me of the Collective still presently seem to have some use for me, but I’m looking to change that.

Jason Clark.

jclark@grofoundation.org

www.twitter.com/GROjasonclark

Posted under Notes from Lesotho

The first day I could feel the potential strength of the sun was earlier today. I had changed into shorts after a day of walking throughout town to visit project partners and friends I had not seen in months. This morning, as I walked to the door of the office of The G.R.O. Artisans Collective, I was treated to two very pleasing sights. The first, a set of brightly painted signs announcing the office itself, and the second a group of three proud women and a beautiful baby girl who made their presence immediately known as they crowded the doorway. ‘Me Mamabula, ‘Me Momasebetsi along with her newborn daughter, and ‘Me Makhothalang were all beaming as they showed off the workspace and retail location they now call their own. Having the chance to see these women working from a storefront they manage was a proud moment for me as they had made great strides and overcome a number of obstacles to expand their business to the level that they were no longer forced to work from their homes. Today they could afford the operating, transport, and staffing costs to come to work daily in an office beside the bustling Hlotse taxi rink, the main area to catch transport to and from the town, in a government complex established for small local enterprises.

These thoughts came flooding back to me as I crossed the field of Molopo High School to meet at the LHDA Compound, known throughout the community as “Little America” for the number of expatriate health practitioners that take up residence there during their stays in Lesotho, with the members of The G.R.O. Foundation Lesotho Board to announce the CIDA funding which they will be receiving during the course of the forthcoming fiscal year. As a white male standing just shy of 6’2” I did my best to blend into the background of the meeting room, not the easiest of tasks here in Hlotse, to ensure that both Jean and Jamie received the appropriate attention for the hours of time that went into their preparation of the grant proposal. The Board’s reaction was one of elation as together we reviewed the program outline and what this funding meant to each one of the projects. During the preparation of the grant each partner was asked for their input into ways in which to they believe their program or business could advance. Sitting among the board members as they began to understand that these goals could now be realized was almost an overpowering moment and a sharp reminder of why I had chosen to return for the next few months.

This oddly was not the highlight of the meeting for me. During the introduction of the grant approval Jamie made mention that The G.R.O. Foundation Lesotho had been introduced into discussion during a sitting of the Canadian Senate. While the buzz of the news hung among the conversations between each of us in the room the project partners passed a small postcard of the Parliament buildings between them. Excitedly, I traded questions for information on my home as we discussed the possibility for theirs. The connection of being able to bring a piece of my country to theirs is one that hopefully will never grow tiresome no matter the strength of the sun.

Posted under Uncategorized

The heat of the tarmac as I descended the stairs from the small prop plane was a frank testament to my departure from the winter months that had begun to descend on Ontario. After a few months of Canadian summer I was again facing months of sun with heat by day and the light chill of evening after the sun has been eclipsed by the mountains. Walking into the Moshoeshoe International Airport, just outside of the Capital Maseru, I was greeted with a feeling of confidence that was in direct contrast to the nervous excitement of my arrival last April on my first trip to Lesotho. Driving north toward Hlotse the browns and reds of the surrounding landscape have been concealed in tones of green to a far greater extent than I could have imagined only a few short months ago. Although the seasonal tones had changed the public transport vans, known as combis, continued to race along the highway merging on and off the road in the staccato manner of my last visit while people shuffled to and from the hundreds of villages into the towns of Teyateyaneng and Maputsoe.

“Coco!” I shouted to announce my arrival to both Jean and Jamie as I stepped out of the car.

“Welcome back, how was your trip?” they both responded as I walked through the back door.

All of the notes and preparation for the implementation of our recently awarded CIDA grant would have to wait until tomorrow. Three continents in about as many days is enough to tire the most seasoned traveler. Aside from my immediate desire for a solid nights rest I had been looking forward to this moment since my stomach felt the aircraft take flight from the Moshoeshoe runway. We sat around and tried not to talk about the work of the upcoming week as the day gave way to the Maluti mountains. It sure felt good to be back.

Jason Clark

G.R.O. Lesotho Operations Coordinator

Posted under Letters from Lesotho, Notes from Lesotho

For her 9th birthday, Teda asked her friends to join her in supporting African students by giving money instead of presents.  Teda and her friends gifted $150 for G.R.O.’s students at Molapo High School in Leribe, Lesotho.  Teda’s birthday gift will help buy more text books for the students.  We thank you, Teda, and your friends for doing such an amazing and inspiring thing!  All of us thank you at G.R.O. and wish you the very best this year!

Posted under The Movement

Robin Otto (Jean’s mom!) hosted two ‘parties for a purpose’ in northern Minnesota in October.  By inviting friends and family, the ‘Up North’ party raised over $500 for projects in Lesotho.  Thanks to everyone who came (and Robin for hosting) and supported G.R.O.! It was great to see everyone and we look forward to more nothern gatherings!  Learn more about throwing your own party for a purpose at www.grofoundation.org 

Posted under Uncategorized