G.R.O. Lesotho was lucky enough to have Megan Landes, G.R.O. Canada Chairperson, visit us here in Hlotse-Leribe and time her visit around the LEAP Career Fair. We have tracked her down for a cross-continent Q&A.

We were really excited to have you visit once again and the whole team misses you already! Having been to Lesotho numerous times what was your impression of the programs on your most recent trip? Is there anything that really stood out to you?

Well, I have to say that it was incredible to be back in Lesotho to see the work that GRO has done in the last 12 months. We have gone from having volunteers only to now having full-time employees - what a change. And we seem to be exponentially growing - an office, a beading store, a truck!! It is great to see what tangible change is happening on the ground - and in such a good way. The GRO Lesotho team seems to be energetic, motivated and passionate about what GRO stands for.

You were honoured as one of the dignitaries at the Career Fair - could you explain what that experience is like for everyone?
Yes, I was a “dignitary” as the Chair of the Board of GRO Canada. How exciting!
During the Career Fair we hosted over a dozen other dignitaries from the Ministry of Education and from the District Administrator. It was a key moment for GRO to get this kind of exposure to those in the government - Jamie White, the Director of GRO Canada and I spent quite a bit of time talking about what GRO is, what we do and how we do it. At the end of the day we had the attention and understanding and support of the dignitaries that were invited - a success I believe!

We have talked about this on numerous occasions but for everyone taking the time to read your Q&A could you say a few words about what you miss most about Lesotho when you head home?
It is always the people. It has been such a special thing to be involved with the Artisans and Grannies and students over the past few years. It is remarkable to be able to come back to Lesotho to see them grow, and prosper and succeed…and I wish them all well and hope to see them soon again.

Typically in a Q&A you only have to answer 3 questions but because we don’t get the chance to sit down often we are going to hit you with a 4th one. There have been big developments brewing for G.R.O. in Canada over the past few months - without giving anything away what can you tell everyone about what the summer has in store for G.R.O. Canada?
Yes, GRO Canada has been undergoing its own remarkable developments. We have applied for CRA registration status, have updated the website, strengthened our board, executive and community of volunteers on this end…and we will be holding a big GRO Canada Launch party come late summer/early fall…GRO Canada is growing along with our GRO Lesotho project partners!

Thank you for taking the time to answer your first G.R.O. Q&A. We were so happy to have you visit us and always look forward to your return to Lesotho!

Posted under Notes from Lesotho

The first couple of blog posts are meant as an introduction to the staff at GRO and those that will be writing for this blog. James White is the Director of Programs/Health and Social Manager and this is his story.

When I traveled to Baja Mexico as an orphanage volunteer in 1999 I had no idea that it would change my life forever. Having grown up in the Canadian prairies I must admit that my world view was fairly limited, I had never traveled outside of Canada and even trips to Edmonton or Calgary were big events in my life.  What I saw at the orphanage both inspired me but shook me.  I remember in particular a trip to the city dump in Vicente Guerrero where I saw whole families and young children rummaging through the massive piles of garbage looking for food.  It was at that moment that I asked a personal question that would change everything.  How can I live in a world where this is acceptable?

On my return to Canada I kept asking these questions, reading about international conflict, the still emerging gravity of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and crippling poverty throughout the developing world.  I found it increasingly difficult to find joy in my own life and developed a deep sense of the injustice plaguing our world.  Two more volunteer trips to Mexico followed and I soon transferred to Queens University where I completed a dual degree in Global Development Studies and Pediatric Nursing.  As a student I travelled to Durban South Africa as part of Queen’s Medical Outreach.  My experience there, teaching HIV education in township schools, confirmed my desire to devote my life to development and international advocacy.  In 2004 I was hired as a nurse at Tsepong Clinic (the place of Hope) in Leribe, Lesotho. With antiretroviral treatment finally becoming available to impoverished nations, I was one of five Canadian medical professionals sent to develop the first government clinic to address the AIDS pandemic in Lesotho.  My experience and learning throughout 2004-2005 in Lesotho cannot be put into words.  I experienced both the deepest and darkest aspects of the AIDS pandemic, a country dying by the thousands with no food, employment or apparent hope.  But I also experienced the other aspects of life, the resilience of a people bravely facing struggle, the demonstrations of courage and love that shake your soul when they are committed in the face of such overwhelming barriers. Miracles.

As my time at Tsepong drew to a close I knew that my commitment to Lesotho could not end there.  We initiated The G.R.O. Foundation as way to continue our support of that community and over the past two and a half years we have steadily grown, involving more students, projects and people…advocating in Canada and supporting families in Lesotho.  I am so excited about the future of The G.R.O. Foundation and the involvement of passionate students, advocates and individuals in Canada.  In November of 2008 I will return to Tsepong as an HIV Program Developer, seeking to continue the work I began as a nurse in expanding and strengthening the AIDS services available in the region.  We will also be focusing on supporting our local partners with The G.R.O. Foundation Lesotho, assisting them in strengthening the existing projects and doing more for the people of Leribe.

What began in Mexico nine years ago has never stopped changing me.  I still ask that question, ‘How can I live in world where this is acceptable?’ I finally know the answer.  I can’t.  I continue to fight struggle, speak out against injustice and although the road ahead is fraught with obstacles and overwhelming need I will continue to stand beside our global brothers and sisters that are facing death, violence and poverty. Standing together we will make a difference.

Posted under The Vision