It actually felt like Christmas today. The excitement that is, even with the notion as far from my mind as it is on a typical March morning. The geography of the whole event is staggering enough, as I am life times away from my family and many friends. But, pushing an oversized cart through the aisles of Metro here in Hlotse I was smiling excitedly as we gathered the staple items for the Christmas Hamper baskets for distribution to the 17 students in the Family Scholarship Fund at Molopo High School.

Earlier in the day we had ordered a chicken for each student, from the Grannies Poultry Project, to compliment the basics Jean and I were collecting. The pile grew to include the staples of Basotho cuisine such as flour, sugar, oil, rice, yeast, tea, soup, beans, and porridge; but also soya mince, tuna, and peanut butter for protein; granola for energy, as well as some chocolate to celebrate with. Our carts brimmed with candles and matches, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shower soap and laundry powder, deodorant and toilet paper, and the bags to carry it all in.

My place was instantly turned into a small distribution warehouse as plastic and cardboard littered the floor along with the debris of beans and brown sugar, as big box packaging shed its layers. After an extensive sorting and clean-up process the room revealed the 9 black plaid packages for the male students and the 8 blue plaid packages for the female students. For me, it came with ribbons! It came with tags! It came with packages, boxes, and bags! With your help the students of the Family Scholarship Fund are receiving a holiday that means something more. Thank you to all of the donors that made the Hamper baskets a possibility for the students of Molopo High School this Christmas.

Jason Clark

G.R.O. Lesotho Volunteer Business Advisor

jclark@grofoundation.org

www.twitter.com/GROjasonclark

Posted under Notes from Lesotho