The Lesotho winter has pushed us toward the heaters and taken the students out of school for winter break. This has given ‘Ntate Katiso ‘Mota some more time in the office as he continues to strengthen the Family Scholarship Fund and the LEAP (Lesotho Educational Advancement Program) education initiatives. We had a chance to sit down with him to discuss what has been a busy month.

After only a few short months you recently received a promotion - can you tell us about your new position?

The new position I have just accepted is the LEAP Program Coordinator. This position means taking over the general role and direction of LEAP and being responsible in developing the work plan and ensure that it is being implemented. The new job still contains my work with the Family Scholarship Fund (FSF) as they are interconnected and both deal with students. We still have the FSF Leadership Club that we use as a model for the LEAP workshops. So I have more of a chance to expand my working activities to more students throughout the whole district.

You and and I have worked closely since you first started with G.R.O. Lesotho - as you continue to manage the Family Scholarship Fund and take on the LEAP initiative what are some of the trainings you have been engaged in and what are you hoping to learn from them?

I have been engaging with a number of professional skills training sessions. These include how to effectively lead and properly attend a meeting - overall professional meeting skills. I have also been invovled in learning how to respond to important messages, e-mails, and letters.

Those are the trainings I have been working with and I am hoping to learn better ways of communicating and conducting myself in professional situations. This has become especially important as I am the face of the programs so it is important to ensure we appear professional and am able to work well with all the attendees.  Also, I am looking to expand my abilities to respond professionally to different situations with our project associates and colleagues. Now that the LEAP program deals specifically with a number of government departments and larger players throughout the Lesotho education sector these things are important.

What successes are you working towards and where do you hope to see the FSF and LEAP programs in the next few months?

Right now, I am working on a comprehensive work plan which will assist in implementing these programs. In the next few months, I want to see LEAP as the most well known and successful G.R.O. Lesotho program in terms of its coverage and impact on educational stakeholders throughout the country. With the FSF I would like to see it increase its benefit for the students. This mean fine tuning the FSF Leadership Club and being able to provide interactive sessions to teach the students more skills giving the students a chance to become better leaders. I want to see students leaving the program and their high school time with the chance for brighter futures. They can pass and go to tertiary.  So, that’s what I can say about the two programs in the months to come.

Posted under Notes from Lesotho

Last Saturday was an incredible and important day for the members of the G.R.O. Artisans Collective. The community rallied around the event to support a group of women who only a few months ago were working out of their homes and now operate a workshop, retail space, and Lesotho’s only beading supply store.  Running around in the hot sun I didn’t have much of a chance to reflect on the event but after the passing of a few days and a cup of coffee, or ten, I am amazed at what this group of mothers has been able to do. The best part of this story is that the Artisans aren’t the only G.R.O. success story witnessed last weekend.

Since January I am proud to have been part of the Family Scholarship Fund to watch the students rally together and welcome the new G.R.O. Counselor, ‘Ntate Katiso ‘Mota. For the first time in the history of the Scholarship Fund there are students from Molapo High School outside the program’s membership who have joined for study sessions and lifeskills workshops. This is a true testament to the character of the students in the program and the great job ‘Ntate ‘Mota is doing with the group. When asked to volunteer their time to work at the Artisans opening the G.R.O. Scholars were there. These students - members and the recently joined -gave up their Saturday to prepare chicken, watch over the grill, distribute food to guests, clean dishes, and ensure the area around the workshop/store was free from garbage at the end of the day.

With a fresh cup and a few days I realize that the students commitment to community service and strengthening their program is a more subtle but equally exciting story that’s unfolding here in Hlotse-Leribe. On behalf of the G.R.O. Foundation Lesotho I want to thank and congratulate the students of the Family Scholarship Fund for their efforts this past weekend. See you on Monday!

Posted under Notes from Lesotho

Working to prepare a Sesotho translation of our Family Scholarship student contract.

speaking to the students during the Family Scholarship After School Leadership Club.

Posted under Letters from Lesotho

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

My first week in Leribe as a G.R.O. Volunteer has flown by. I have been kept busy with meetings at Molapo High School and getting situated here in Leribe. Leribe is much quieter than Maseru (where I have spent the past two summers), but I find myself very happy here and well situated. I was so overjoyed to return to Lesotho that I was nearly crying when I arrived at the airport. I am incredibly thankful for the chance to come work here again.

During the next two months, I will mainly be working with the G.R.O. Family Scholarship Fund. It is exciting to dedicate myself to a project that I feel so strongly about. I have spent the past week learning as much as possible about the scholarship program and the school. I spent last weekend studying the scholarship recipients’ backgrounds and family situations. It was devastating to learn about what circumstances the scholars were living in. So many have lost parents and/or have families suffering from long stretches of unemployment (it is very difficult to find work in Leribe at this time). One of the students had an unemployed grandmother who had to resort to begging to take care of her and her 6 siblings. Some of the students have lost everyone in their family to HIV and are living completely on their own. All of this reminded me once again of the great importance of having the G.R.O. Scholarship available for these children who have gone through the unimaginable.

When I met the scholarship recipients at Molapo High School last Wednesday with Jean to kick off the new quarter, they each introduced themselves and told me what they dreamed of becoming in the future - engineers, doctors, lawyers… It is rewarding to be part of this important initiative that enables them to turn their aspirations into reality.

AIDS Club

I have been a special guest of the AIDS Club at Molapo High School during the past week. I asked to attend a couple of the meetings because I have previously conducted HIV education in Lesotho. The group meets every Tuesday and Thursday to discuss HIV – how it’s transmitted, ways of prevention, HIV news stories, etc. The club meets out in the field behind the school where the students stand in a circle to talk about what they know concerning the virus. I was impressed by their knowledge and that they were committed to discussing the topic for 2 hours every week. They asked me about details related to transmission that they otherwise may have been embarrassed to ask in front of their club advisor (who is one of their teachers). I was surprised that there was one question after another for an entire hour from the group. I was very frank in describing details concerning how exactly the disease is transmitted – most of them don’t know these important details concerning HIV as many of their educators are embarrassed to talk about it with them. I admit talking about some of these topics can be awkward at times - and there is plenty of giggling from the students (I did the same back when I was learning sex education in school). But it is absolutely crucial for them to know these things in order to protect themselves and others.

G.R.O. After School Program

I love being here with the students. Any feeling of homesickness I might have goes away when I am with them. It never fails to amaze me how resilient the human spirit is. You see it everyday here with these students. They are so sweet, kind, and open even after all they have gone through.

I have spent the past week with the G.R.O. Scholars to kick off a new after-school program. The students meet Monday – Thursday and the program is designed to provide more social and academic support. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons are made up of study hours for the students to work on homework and ask questions. Wednesdays are G.R.O. Leadership Club meetings which are for career guidance, confidence and leadership development, practical skill-building, and help with applications. The first week of the program went very well. The study hour periods helped students focus on their studies. The students also enjoyed their first club meeting, where we played icebreaker games and watched videos containing advice from successful Basotho on entering different career fields (e.g., medicine, accounting, data management, education).

I’m looking forward to continuing working with the students and helping them develop their interests and motivations.

Posted under Notes from Lesotho

To begin, I must apologize for the delay in posting this most recent entry. As a novice volunteer in Lesotho until recently I had yet to experience my true initiation into working abroad in Africa. This rite of passage is symbolized by a few bed-ridden days and an attack of severe stomach flu. In penning this entry I am proud to announce my return to the outside world and my appreciation for all of the individuals from G.R.O., OHAfrica, and the Lesotho Boston Health Alliance for nursing me back to proper health.

Now, with that discomfort behind us I am really excited to fill you in on what has been happening on the ground here in Hlotse over the past two weeks. By all accounts there has been a flurry of activity as we have filled our days with multiple meetings and project reviews to strengthen our existing infrastructure. Currently, the entire G.R.O. Lesotho team has been spending the majority of our evenings and all of our weekends pouring over our most recent grant proposal in hopes of further expanding our capacity within the community. The process is integral to the growth of programming and resources for grassroots organizations such as ours and is one I am unfamiliar with so the work is excitedly breaking unfamiliar ground for me.

With the end of term winding down this week at Molopo High School we met with all of our Scholarship students for their quarterly academic performance reviews. The program ranges in age from Form A to Form E students, the Lesotho equivalent to North American Grade 7 to Grade 11, who all face distinct home life challenges most students have lost at least one if not both of their parents to HIV/AIDS. With some students falling behind in their studies the one-on-one meetings give us the chance to communicate with each student in a safe and comfortable environment without the social challenges of approaching teachers in a classroom setting.

During the academic reviews we were able to assess and address a number of challenges affecting some of the students work. A number of factors including poor eyesight, poor nutrition, and inability to seek academic help were uncovered leading to the disbursal of 3 Care Packages to students as a result of the reviews. The process of meeting with the students has consistently been one of my favourite activities because of the tangible benefits and social interactions the work provides in meeting with the children and young adults who are set to become the future leaders of their communities. Finally, I would be remiss without sending our congratulations from everyone at G.R.O. to ‘Ntate Mphana and his wife on the birth of their new baby girl!

Waking up in the Morning is becoming an increasing challenge as new days are met with the chill of frost filled nights. More than any other G.R.O. initiative the Grannies Poultry Project has encountered the most challenges with the onset of the cold weather. A lack of heating for the chicken coop due to poor insulation and no electrical wiring has seen the Bo Nkhono lose a number of chicks over the past week.

After our meeting last week we came to the unanimous decision to begin preparation for the renovation of the coop. The intention is to be as innovative and cost effective as possible by framing the inside of the coop and insulating the building using sawdust and removable sacks of chicken feathers. By creating a drop ceiling with sliding roof panels the Grannies will be able to regulate the amount of insulation in the roof simply by adding or removing stuffed sacks of feathers. This simple technology will allow the project to reduce monetary costs and environmental impacts by using readily available materials. The renovations are slated for completion by the middle of July.

The G.R.O. Artisans Collective has kept us all busy with far more than jewellery production over the past while. After a lengthy group effort the 2009 Fall – Winter Catalogue is complete. A huge thank you to Pauline for all her graphic design leg work, Jean for her photography, and our models ‘Me Mathabang, ‘Me Mamabula, Lexi, Jess, Thuli, and Jean for making my part in completing the catalogue much, much easier than it should have been! The final approval came today over lunch we watched ‘Me Mathabang, ‘Me Mamabula, excitedly pour over the first printed copy. After all of the hours that were put into the finished product there was little else that could have been more rewarding than watching the two women smile as they leafed through the pages showing their work. We will be posting the catalogue in its entirety very shortly but in the meantime please do not hesitate to contact us, artisans@grofoundation.org, if you would like to receive an immediate copy and order form.

Looking at my calendar for the rest of the week I can assure you there is no slowing down. The time is 7:45PM here in Leribe and I need to sign off as we still have one final meeting before the day comes to a close. After spending far too much time sitting on the sidelines I am grateful to be able to fill my day with this much activity. Thank you for taking the time to check in on our activities and please stop back shortly as I doubt I will be able to go a full week before writing to you again.

Salang Hantle,

Thuso Selialia

Jason.

Posted under Uncategorized

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

It’s summer here in Lesotho and it’s hot. The rooster wakes up with the morning sun at 4:30 a.m. and all local activity begins. The mountain foothills are green and the maize fields indicate a bountiful harvest come fall. The thunderstorms that come almost every night shake the house and cut out the electricity. Mornings are busy but things slow down in the afternoon as the blanket of heat steers people under shaded trees. I’m happy it’s summer – everything is so alive.

The Maluti Mountains of Lesotho

Back in Lesotho for only a few days now, I’ve already had the chance to meet with many of our G.R.O. project members and leaders. It was great to re-connect with our projects and I was so pleased to see that they have all strengthened and grown within 2008. They are excited for all that can be done in 2009 and they send their thanks for all of your support this year. Thanks to those of you who contributed where you could, or participated in the Scholarship Challenge and Gifts of Hope campaign, The G.R.O. Foundation will be able to further expand its projects and support more people in Leribe, Lesotho.

The Family Scholarship Fund
The students of the Family Scholarship Fund at Molapo High School are enjoying their summer holidays and the end of the 2008 academic year. Three of our students have completed their final year and have just taken their graduation test. We are awaiting their results which will come in February as the results of their exams will determine which post-secondary schools they can attend. Tsepo aims to study tourism and Marosa and Maseliso are interested in a variety of disciplines. We delivered their Holiday Food Baskets at our annual end-of-year Braii (BBQ) and everyone is very excited to start the new academic year in January.
Our peer educators and academic advisors are busy preparing their teaching plans for 2009 and we look forward to welcoming new students as well in January.

Family Scholarship graduate Tsepo speaks about his experience at Machebang College to other scholarship students at Molapo at the 2008 end-of-year party.

The Grandmothers Support Group of Leribe
‘Me Mapalesa, a retired nurse clinician, runs the Grandmothers Support Group of Leribe. The Grandmothers group has two main projects: home-based care and community support through a poultry project. Home-based care is an incredibly important part in combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Even with the awareness campaigns and available treatment, the shame and fear HIV patients feel keeps them hidden in their houses – usually dying alone without any care or comfort. The Grandmothers Support Group works with the local chief to visit patients at home and help them get the health care they need. We delivered multivitamins, pain medications and kids vitamins to restock their Home Care kits.

The Grandmothers Group also started a poultry project in 2008. The Grandmothers raise broiler chickens and sell them locally. The Grandmothers also give the chickens to orphans and patients in the community and use the profits to provide for the needy in the community. Each member of the Grandmothers contributed funds to provide the start-up for this project while The G.R.O. Foundation matched their contributions. Because of your support, they have a brand new poultry house which can house over 300 chickens and within 2009 aim to build at least 4 more chicken houses to expand their project.

Thuli’s Jewelry Handicraft Cooperative
The Handicraft Cooperative is going really well. There has been a lot of interest generated both in North America and in Lesotho. The women are working hard and currently we are looking at solidifying our local systems and working to expand our international market. This project has so much potential and I look forward to working with the women to help it grow next year. We’ve started putting together the Thuli’s Jewelry starter kits and I can’t wait to start delivering them to the new cooperative members.

It’s great to be back – I’m happy its summer – and I look forward to keeping you all posted on the work we are doing in Lesotho. Keep an eye on our website and blog for future developments and updates!

Jean - G.R.O. Co-Director

Posted under The Mission