Global Relief Outreach 416-977-9292 | director@grofoundation.org
970 Queen Street East | PO Box 98205 RPO | Toronto, ON M4M 1J8
G.R.O. Lesotho recently received funding from the Commonwealth of Australia through the Australian Agency for International Development. This grant will help include people with disabilities in the existing programming as well as to further develop and expand the current projects. The team would like to expand our thanks to AusAID and look forward to a successful year ahead!
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This post was written by jean.margaritis on April 9, 2011
Why the Transition?
In January 2011, a meeting was held between GRO representatives from all three partner countries in order to discuss our current phase of development and plans for the 2011-12 financial year. It was determined that due to the viability of transition at this time, the strength of Lesotho program personnel, and a desire to limit the Lesotho organizations’ reliance on foreign charitable funding, a full financial and programming transition will be carried out as of March 31st 2011.
What does this transition mean?
As development workers wholly committed to sustainable social change we have always reinforced the idea that successful and appropriately motivated international development workers must primarily advocate for the termination of their own roles. Empowering communities means fostering local leadership, supporting local initiative, and promoting local ownership. The GRO movement, thanks to the support of our international donors and supporters and due mainly to the commitment and talents of GRO Lesotho personnel, has accomplished this. While GRO volunteers will continue to support the GRO Lesotho operations team with technical advise and support – the time has come for GRO Lesotho to move toward full financial independence. Therefore, as of March 31st 2011 GRO Canada will no longer be pursuing private charitable funding on behalf of GRO Lesotho, instead, we will be focusing on securing long-term development grants and promoting the financial self-sufficiency of the social enterprise collectives.
Has G.R.O.’s work in Lesotho been successful?
Yes, this is our development success story. GRO was started in 2005 because all three of our founding members had developed strong relationships with Basotho community members who were struggling and needed someone to take notice. Rather than providing a one-time charitable donation of money, clothes or food we decided to promote the development of a local initiative that could endure long after we had left Lesotho.
Since 2005, the Oatway Family Scholarship Fund has supported 26 high school students with all current graduates pursuing further education or training. Our very first student, Tsepo Ramaema completed an international baccalaureate in Maseru and now works as a marketing manager for the national newspaper. Other graduates are completing nursing, teaching, and accounting degrees. The GRO team built upon this initiative through developing the Lesotho Educational Advancement Program (LEAP), the GRO Career Fair model and GRO Student Resource Center. This program has received tremendous support from the Lesotho Ministry of Education, and is financially supported by the European Union, and the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.
In early 2006 Mamabula Selia-lia, an unemployed mother of two affected by HIV/AIDS, reached out to GRO. An investment of $500 allowed her to start a small jewelry business, at first selling at local weddings and cultural events, and later to a few local retailers. Over the past 5 years Mamabula’s business has developed into the GRO Artisan’s Collective for women affected by HIV/AIDS. The Collective grew rapidly, expanding partnerships with other artisan groups and developing new eco-friendly product lines. The artisans added 7 new members, expanded their local retail and workshop, and the Queen of Lesotho has become a supporter by buying jewelry for her private collection.
GRO funding also provided support for the local GRO Grannies’ poultry facility. Modest improvements to production facilities and focused business training have assisted the grandmothers in scaling up their business – where now a hired farm manager can raise up to 600 chickens for community benefit every five weeks.
Where once Jean Margaritis worked with local partners out of her living room and in open fields, GRO Lesotho now has a large community-based office, a 4×4 vehicle, and five full-time Basotho staff under the leadership of GRO Lesotho Programs Manager Rethabile Skundla and the local executive committee of local elders.
As the final phase of transition begins on March 31st we are very pleased to move forward knowing that the GRO effort has demonstrated that international social development can work – and that hope and solidarity do transcend borders.
More Questions? If you have any further questions related to the transition process or future of GRO Canada/USA please contact James White at director@grocanada.org.
James White
Co-Founder / Director
Global Relief Outreach
director@grocanada.org
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This post was written by jason.clark on March 13, 2011
Join us in supporting the GRO Artisans this holiday season by purchasing one of their amazing pieces on our new Etsy site. The GRO Artisans are a collective of mothers affected by HIV/AIDS in Lesotho, and their work provides them with an income, on-site child care, and a comprehensive health care plan. Everything is handcrafted by the artisans in Lesotho and features eco-sourced materials like recycled paper, mountain clay, recycled newspaper and cow horn. Each piece is packed in a hand sewn bag made of traditional African fabric.
All jewelry is 25% off until December 24, 2010. We hope you love it as much as we love making it!
Visit us at Etsy www.etsy.com/shop/GROArtisans
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This post was written by jean.margaritis on December 18, 2010
In Lesotho the days are longer and warmer as we creep through December toward the new year. The school year has almost come to a close and with it comes the annual end-of-year party for the students of the Family Scholarship Fund. This year the event was coupled with an important session on HIV/AIDS and sexual health. The students worked with a counsellor from the local hospital in Hlotse to mark World AIDS Day which just past on December 1st. Here are a few photos taken outside the G.R.O. Lesotho office as some of the students relax between the session and the party later that afternoon. Congratulations to all of the FSF students for their efforts and successes this past year. We look forward to a full update as the year wraps up!
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This post was written by jason.clark on December 6, 2010
On behalf of Global Relief Outreach we wish to acknowledge and honour Remembrance Day and we hope you will join with us in a moment of silence.
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This post was written by jason.clark on November 11, 2010
ob Allan and Jeanine Tan tied the knot in Toronto on June 25th, 2010 and gave G.R.O. a reason to celebrate too! Instead of doing table gifts for guests at the wedding, Rob and Jeanine made a significant contribution to G.R.O. Canada on behalf of their guests.
Though Rob and Jeanine have been living in London, U.K. for several years, like G.R.O., they have Canadian roots. It’s G.R.O. Canada’s mission to connect Canadian people with vulnerable communities around the world that really interests Rob and Jeanine. Having both lived and travelled in many places around the world, they understand that creating these connections is vitally important for social change. INSERT QUOTE FROM ROB: “I have been very impressed by G.R.O.’s experience of collaboration and partnership in Lesotho. It is G.RO.’s direct impact on the local community that really sets it apart, and the organisation’s dedication and commitment to fostering meaningful change is a real inspiration. I’d certainly like to see more Canadians get involved.”
Jeanine and Rob’s “I do” was attended by G.R.O. Chair, Megan Landes, and three members of the Canadian operations team. On what felt like an enchanted summer evening straight from the storybooks, the G.R.O. Canada team was honoured to be acknowledged! Rob and Jeanine’s generous gift was a great kick-off to an exciting summer for G.R.O., which also brought the announcement of G.R.O. Canada’s status as a registered Canadian charity.
Congratulations Jeanine and Rob on behalf of the whole G.R.O. Canada Team!
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This post was written by jason.clark on September 14, 2010
The G.R.O. Artisans Collective has faced a number of challenges with business expansion and an increasing number of mothers working as both jewelry designers and producers. The Collective gives these women a chance at financial stability and independence for themselves and their families. This opportunity, as great as it is, necessarily comes after their most important role of being a mother. With an influx of mothers comes an rush of young children and as the Artisans expanded their production and retail space they searched for a solution to the increasing number of infants that quickly became an office responsibility which is bound to happen with a roomful of carrying mothers. Recently, the Artisans and G.R.O. Lesotho came up with the solution of G.R.O. Care a small daycare centre supported by both parties and open to all other small businesses in the Hlotse BEDCo compound - a small business centre where the G.R.O. offices are located - to increase the productivity of all surrounding local business. G.R.O. Careis run by ‘Me Rose an incredible woman, mother, and grandmother who took the time out of her day to talk to us a bit more about the daily activity of the centre.
There are 10 children including Joyce who is not often around because she is already in pre-school. There’s only one boy and the rest of the children are girls.
What do you like most about your job?
I love these children because they make my job easier; they are very obedient and most of the time peaceful.
What are some of the challenges you face at the G.R.O. Care Centre?
Children that are under the age of one need a lot of attention and sometimes it gets a bit challenging to attend to them and the rest of the children at the same time. I’m also nervous about space if we plan to expand and get more children.
How do you envision the future of the Day-care?
Successful! By that I mean I want us to get to a point where we have proper infrastructure and facilities. I also want to see the children develop mentally and psychologically before they go off to pre-school.
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This post was written by jason.clark on September 11, 2010
The G.R.O. Foundation Lesotho and its’ international partners mourns the loss of Thomas Maresco, a Peace Corps volunteer who was serving as a teacher in Lesotho. He was fatally shot on Friday, September 3 2010 in the capital, Maseru. All of us with G.R.O. wish to send our condolences to the family and friends of Thomas.
G.R.O. Foundation Lesotho has strong ties to the US Peace Corps; two of the co-founders of G.R.O. are returned Peace Corps volunteers who served in Lesotho. Several U.S. Peace Corps volunteers have participated in G.R.O. Lesotho’s programming over the past five years, and this August, a Peace Corps volunteer joined G.R.O. on a two-year placement working with the G.R.O. Artisans Collective.
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This post was written by jean.margaritis on September 6, 2010
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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This post was written by jean.margaritis on July 25, 2010
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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This post was written by jean.margaritis on July 25, 2010
