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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With the busy schedule that ‘Me Rethabile Skundla, the G.R.O. Lesotho Programs Manager, keeps we are always grateful when she takes time out of the day to sit down for a Q&A chat. Today, it is especially cold so we are huddled near the gas heater for a Lesotho version of the fireside chat.

Already a month has passed since the LEAP Career Fair - What are some of the things you have been working on since that time?

I think mostly I have been working on the EU LGNSP grant which is one of the largest funders for the LEAP education initiative. This means I have been very busy! Some of what I’ve been working on include attending a workshop where I had to present our complete work plan at a 2-day workshop. There we presented the budget, time line, and activity schedule for the program.

What big changes are coming up for the organization?

There really is so much - I can begin with our new LEAP coordinator, ‘Ntate Katiso ‘Mota has stepped in with a promotion, we are getting closer to publishing the LEAP Career guidebook, and we hope to shortly open the LEAP Resource Centre for district stufents. Bo ‘Nkhono (the Grannies) have also joined ESAF which is a buying program that should give increased access to the retail market for selling their chickens. Also, the Artisans were able to send a gift to the Queen for her birthday which just happened. There really are so many exciting things with all of the programs so I’m sure I’m leaving a few out!

Finally, how do you feel with the World Cup starting next door in South Africa?

Wow - This is one of the days in Africa where everyone is so excited and we are all in the mood for football!  Still, work goes on but we’re in the mood for it to start - only a few hours now until Bafana takes the field. In Africa, rain means a blessing and it has been raining all day and night - this is special because it is winter so we are all feeling the good mood.

Who do you think will win in the opening game tonight between Bafana Bafana (South Africa) and Mexico?

South Africa, of course! 2-1 is what I think so I’m absolutely excited!

Well, that about wraps it up for today - Kea leboha (thank you) ‘Me and GO Bafana GO!

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Lumela ‘Me! As the newest member of The G.R.O. Foundation Lesotho you have the honour of our second Q&A. This is something new we’ve just started doing so all of the G.R.O. supporters can get a better grasp of what it is we’re doing on the ground in Lesotho. Again, you’re the new G.R.O. Artisans Collective Coordinator so on behalf of G.R.O. Canada and G.R.O. USA please let me welcome you to the team!

1) What are your goals for the GAC over the next few months?

As the Collective Coordinator I am hoping to increase the number of retail locations, both nationally and internationally, stocking the Artisans jewelry. Also, we want to expand our customer base with new sales initiatives and focus on national marketing and publicity.

2) What are you working on today?

Today, I visited a local retailer, with Bo ‘Me, to restock their display and collect payments. A bit later I have to reconciling cash records and run a meeting to review the process of quality control as well as roles and responsibilities for doing so amongst the Collective members.

Having the job of Collective Coordinator means a lot to me. Community development is something I am passionate about it - I believe in the purpose for the G.R.O. projects and that’s why I am involved. Non-profit management is what I  studied and majored in. I am definitely excited to be able to return to Lesotho work with G.R.O. Lesotho knowing that I’m giving back to my own community. So i’m very excited and looking forward to more growth and successes.

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A huge hit with all customers, pendants and earrings made out of Lesotho cow horn are a must have for 2010.  The Artisans cow horn products are made locally here in Hltose and will be one of our newest products on the eco-line.

First, horns are collected in the community and brought to the Artisans workshop.   After cleaning them, our friends at the local workshop help us to cut them into 2 inch square pieces which make it easy for us to work with.

Today, with plastic bags covering their hair, hospital masks and lab coats, the women of the Artisans Collective experimented with carving the cow horn using their new power tool.  It’s a dirty, dusty and smelly job and the hot summer weather doesn’t make it much easier.  However, their beautiful creations this week have proved that all the sweat and dust is worth it!  Wow!  We look forward to introducing our new ‘manaka’ line shortly!  Sign up for our newsletter at www.grofoundation.org for updates on the new eco-line. 

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Upon completion of his Peace Corps service, co-founder of G.R.O. Foundation Lesotho, Greg Felson started C02SLASHERS, a unique company that sells re-usable take-away containers called ‘ECO BOXES’.  CO2Slashers is dedicated to operating on a quadruple bottom line, which measures not just the financial bottom line, but also the environmental, health and social bottom line.  The company has committed to a $2.00 donation for every ECO-BOX sold as part of G.R.O.’s Gifts of Hope campaign.

Visit CO2SLASHERS to learn more and purchase your own ECO BOX.

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Many families struggle to survive the harsh Lesotho winters that produce temperatures below freezing and snowfall. Corrugated tin housing, few heating sources, and a shortage of winter crops create survival challenges for Lesotho families. Your gift of a Family Winter Survival Kit will help provide a family in desperate need with paraffin for heating, winter blankets, and staple foods to help endure the winter months.
Give this gift

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The AIDS pandemic in Lesotho has left many grandmothers caring for orphaned grandchildren and terminally ill people living in their communities. In Leribe, Lesotho, an industrious group of grandmothers started the Grandmothers` Support Group to provide better organized home-based health care in their communities. To fund improved care, the Grandmothers` Support Group has started a small-scale poultry business. A gift of $30 will provide the grandmothers with 15 baby chicks, chick grain feed, and agricultural supplies. These supplies will help the grandmothers to to expand their business, the profits from which are used entirely for care in the community.

Give this gift

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