Since 2008, James White (G.R.O. Canada Executive Director) and Jean Margaritis (Director of Lesotho Programs) say goodbye to Lesotho after 1.5 years.  Since 2005, Jean and James have watched G.R.O. Lesotho build a strong foundation, develop and ex

pand its local programs, and welcome a beautiful and talented team of Basotho.

The organization, with support from G.R.O. Canada and USA, the Canada Fund, and the European Union is stronger than ever. Thank you to everyone who has made this phenomenal growth possible.

‘Me Rethabile, the Programs Manager, is overseeing the overall program through her strong leadership and warm personality, and will work closely with Jean to ensure strong program management and financial accountability moving forward.

‘Me Motseoa, the G.R.O. Artisans Collective Coordinator, is leading the G.R.O. Artisans as they strengthen and expand their local and international markets.  She joined the team in April and had already connected with Lesotho’s Queen who has made a special order, and expanded the local retail locations to nine.

Ntate Katiso, the G.R.O. LEAP Coordinator, is managing the education portfolio including the Family Scholarship Fund and LEAP.  With 4,000 Career Resource books to distribute throughout Lesotho, and a new Career Resource Centre to establish, Katiso will be busy!

We also welcome Motsehi, who joins us as an operations assistant and driver, and Adam, the G.R.O. Peace Corps volunteer who will join us in August for 2 years.

We at G.R.O. feel blessed to have such an amazing team in Lesotho, with projects that bring hope, empowerment and support to the community of Leribe.

The G.R.O. Team

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The artisans catch some rays while developing their own mission statement

The G.R.O. Team (our staff, members and board) traveled to the mountains on July 17 for their annual team retreat.  Its the middle of winter here, so it was cold!  The artisans came prepared wearing their Basotho blankets, as the rest of us huddled under the heater.

The purpose of our retreat this year was to focus on a mission and vision for the organization, inclusive of our different projects.  Each project wrote their own mission and vision statement after a tutorial from Programs Manager, Rethabile.  Afterward, we joined together and created the mission for G.R.O. Lesotho.  It was a great team experience and way to build a collective vision as we move forward.

The mission of G.R.O. Lesotho is:  “to bring positive change to vulnerable local communities by providing hope, empowerment and support.  We do this through involving inspired people, hand in hand, to provide tools, resources, and training at the grassroots level, ultimately leading to long-term growth and sustainability of our locally-inspired projects”.

James speaks to the team about social change

The artisans... warm in their Basotho blankets

Rethabile, Katiso and Matumelo discuss the grannies poultry project and social mission

Our senior G.R.O. board members jot down important points for the organization

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The G.R.O. Team takes a few minutes to just enjoy being awesome…

What a team!

Katiso, Rethabile and Motseoa - G.R.O.

G.R.O. Intern Leanne and Collective Coordinator Motseoa confuse the office for a Vegas stage

... what usually contains our daily work schedules is transformed by Rethabile, Programs Manager

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Leanne joined us in early May as an Intern from the Development Studies Department at Queens University in Canada.  During her time with the G.R.O. Team, Leanne worked on each of our three projects.  She arrived just in time for the Career Fair where she helped organize the presenters tent and was immediately thrown into the busy schedule at the GRO office.  She facilitated the media project with the Artisans, lead sessions with the G.R.O. Scholars, and helped out at the Grannies project.  She made paper beads with the students, taught computer lessons in our office, and worked on numerous a document.  We can’t thank Leanne enough for her enthusiasm, hard work and ‘can do’ attitude.  Thank you Leanne from all of us in Lesotho - you will be missed!

Leanne shows off a Basotho blanket

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The G.R.O. Lesotho team bids farewell to Jason Clark, who has been an integral part of our team here. We celebrated his contributions last week, and wish him the best of luck on his future endeavors.

Jason first volunteered with G.R.O. in Lesotho from April-June 2009 as a business advisor, where he helped the artisans with their business, advised the Grannies on improving chicken production, and worked with the students.

In November 2009, Jason returned again to Lesotho, this time for eight months. During these past eight months, Jason has been part of monumental change.  He has helped move offices (twice) as we grew, traveled with the artisans to numerous a bazaar, dug trenches around the chicken coop, and conducted lifeskills sessions with the students.  He mentored our local staff in planning a career fair for 2400 students, assisted in writing a 64 page Career Resource Manual, and spent countless hours helping to strengthen and build the organization.

We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Jason - we could not have done it without you!

From everyone here with G.R.O. Lesotho.

Posted under Notes from Lesotho