Throughout this week, I am taking the GRO Scholars to the local internet café here in Leribe for internet training.  The café only has one computer with internet, which we reserved for four days so that the students could go after school in groups of four or five.

I was a bit surprised to learn that not one of the students had ever used the internet before. I set up email accounts for all of our scholars so that they could learn email basics this week.  Each of them get 30 minutes on the internet, during which they learn how to log-in to their accounts, compose and check email, type in web addresses, and use search engines.  Leading up to this internet training, I had completed basic computer training with the students using the Molapo High School computer lab and individual computer time on my laptop.  During these times, the students were taught how to type properly and use programs like Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.

One of our GRO Scholars, Marahaba, said how she was so grateful to have learned the internet and how wonderful of an experience it was for her.  The students took notes when they were not sitting at the computer (the other three observed while I would show one different features).  Afterwards, they were looking up prices at the internet café (which is fairly affordable for the students) so that they could come back on their own time.  I hope they do so often!

Sophie Kim
G.R.O. Volunteer

Posted under Letters from Lesotho, Uncategorized

On August 28, 2009 Leribe district challenged HIV and AIDS stigma and discrimination.   The festival, the first of its kind, was brought together by local and international NGOs and the government of Lesotho.  G.R.O. Foundation hosted the “Kids Corner” with a jumping castle, face painting and frisbee games. The G.R.O. Scholars, all high school students affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, demonstrated their support by volunteering all day at the event.  The G.R.O. Artisans, a collective of HIV positive mothers, challenged stigma in their own way by teaching kids how to make bracelets.   The Olympic Youth Ambassador Program and Kick 4 Life joined us in offering HIV prevention and Life Skills games to the over 1,000 people who attended the event.  We would like to thank our community partners and friends who helped make this powerful and important event possiblem and we stood up and said ‘no’ to stigma and discrimination.

Posted under Letters from Lesotho

A note from Likano Mpoteli

My goals in future I want to be a doctor, because I see that in my country many people die and there is not enough doctors.  To reach my goals, I need to apply all the effort to my studies.  Thanks to this sponsorship I can attend school. And because of this sponsorship I will be able to do everything that will make a bright future for me.  I will always thank this sponsorship because it helps me and my family, and we know that education is the key to success.

Posted under Letters from Lesotho

A quick congratulations to Marosa who passed her Form E graduation exam with First Class!  Way to go!  Tsepo and Matseliso also passed exceptionally well.  We look forward to supporting them as they begin applying for post-secondary education!

Posted under Letters from Lesotho

The schools are still on break for the summer holidays.  January starts the new academic year so it’s back-to-school season for everyone.  Pre-schoolers are trying on their very first backpack, elementary students struggle to fit into their older siblings old uniforms, junior highers nervously await their first day at a new school, and high schoolers begin to stress about their senior examinations.   Schools are supposed to begin their first term next Monday (January 19) but schools here never really start on time.  The first week is for paying school fees, finding old school books, being sent home for inappropriate uniforms or waiting for teachers to arrive from their own homes in the mountains.  The first week is always a bit chaotic but I am glad our students in The Family Scholarship Fund don’t need to worry about paying their school, book or examination fees.  In the disorganized first week of school, they can just sit back, relax and catch up with friends.  Though when classes finally begin, our students work hard.  They participate in career guidance sessions, LifeSkills classes, extra academic tutorials and many are participants in the Drama and HIV/AIDS clubs.

Thanks to all of your support last year, we are now able to add an additional five students to The Family Scholarship Fund.  We’ll be accepting the new students next week. G.R.O. goes to great care to select our students.  First, students are identified who demonstrate excellence in the classroom but would be unable to attend school due to financial hardships.  Students who have lost both parents (double orphans) in Lesotho are sponsored by the government whereas students who have lost one parent (single orphans) are considered for the scholarship.  Other students who are able to demonstrate significant hardship are also given consideration.  Once the teachers have identified students, the students submit a written application along with a letter from their chief verifying their home life situation.  Our academic advisors then conduct a home visit to meet family or relatives.  Their completed applications are submitted to the principal for approval before the selection committee officially nominates them for the scholarship.

I’ve been phoned by about 15 different people informing me that the Form C (Grade 10) Junior Certificate exam results were released this week in the national papers.  Everyone was very excited as four of our Scholarship students took the exam this year and we are very pleased that all four passed!  Thakisi, Kefuoe, Likano and Marahaba are now able to enter Form D this year.  Congratulations!

We are still awaiting the Form E (Grade 12) results which will be released at the end of this month.  Three of our students took this senior level exam – we are keeping our fingers crossed for Matseliso, Tsepo and Marosa!

Students play games at the end of year party

Until next week, sala hantle (stay well) and thank you for your ongoing support.

Posted under Letters from Lesotho

A note from Tsoanyane Mososo

I am a Mosotho boy of seventeen years.  I stay in Leribe and attend school at Molapo High School.  I am an orphan and can’t afford to pay for my school fees this year. This year I am participating in so many activities such as the English Club and the HIV/AIDS club.  This scholarship makes me work hard, and I promise you that I will work very hard to get good results. I will obey my teachers and work hard to have a bright future.

Posted under Letters from Lesotho, The Mission

A note from Kefuoe Motabola

Thank you for this sponsorship.  I will use all the time that I have to do my school work because when I finish my high school level I would like to go o the University of Lesotho.  This sponsorship will help me to improve my life and I will make sure that I work hard to improve my life and also so that I will improve this world.

Posted under Letters from Lesotho, The Mission