Jean is well known to our supporting community as Co-founder of G.R.O. Lesotho and the outgoing Programs Manager. She is adamant about putting the focus at all times on individuals and projects here in Lesotho but we’ve tracked here down for her first G.R.O. Q&A.

The LEAP Career Fair is the largest event G.R.O. Lesotho has put on to date and potentially the largest Career Fair ever to be organized in Lesotho - how do you feel the event went?

I think the event was an overall success and it really demonstrated the G.R.O. philosphy of low cost high impact programming. We were able to provide 2,400 students with information and encouraged them to search outside of the careers and schools they may have been considering. All the feedback we received was positive and, more than anything, I was proud of how we presented a top of the line program to the students, high schools, tertiary schools, and the rest of the district.

In the days leading up to the event you mentioned a few times that you might have a mini-break down if things became seriously chaotic but I never saw you come close - were there many problems throughout the event and how do you think everyone dealt with them?

Logistically speaking, I think with any larger event there will be things you didn’t or couldn’t have planned for and, of course, we ran into a few barriers. However, I think the team was able to navigate the small challenges that came up and were able to easily accommodate the issues. Going into the event I wasn’t sure if we would have any serious challenges but no, I didn’t cry and spent most of the day thoroughly composed. Overall, I think we were all quite surprised how smoothly the whole thing went.

Over the past year the organization has seen tremendous growth and you have been at the centre to deal with the growing pains - where do you think G.R.O. Lesotho is in terms of potential and actualization at the moment?

You know, as a locally registered charity run by an exceptional team of basotho nationals with support from G.R.O. Canada and our current partners, including the Canada Fund, I think we have built a solid foundation of support.

In terms of potential, well, I think the potential for our Lesotho programming is mind boggling. Strong staff, strong partners, low cost - high impact programming, and an increasing recognition throughout the country - these are all great developments that are really the beginning of our vision. In terms of actualizing its potential I am completely confident that the team we have on the ground is able to recognize what the organization is capable of and use their tools and available resources to really follow through and continue to come up with ways forward in strengthening local communities.

I know that you had been dreading and avoiding this Q&A but thanks for taking the time to sit down and speak a little bit about the current G.R.O. Lesotho programming.

Posted under Notes 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

Working and living in the community of Leribe I met so many people who were committed to improving their lives.  I worked with students selling apples trying to make enough money for school fees, women struggling to feed and support their families with no income, and grandmothers overwhelmed by the burden of caring for their orphaned grandchildren.  Seeing this first-hand and knowing that with just a little bit of support and encouragement, these committed people could have the opportunity to change their lives for the better.  Working with James, Greg and the community members, The G.R.O. Foundation was borne.  The G.R.O. Foundation is a vehicle, an opportunity and the hope for the Basotho people which supports local solutions to local problems.

One of the most unique things about The G.R.O. Foundation is that the Basotho people have ownership of the projects – the projects have been selected by our local project leaders as projects that are beneficial to their community.  I see my role as supporting our local project participants and they manage and expand their projects, providing advice and guidance to build their capacity.

By Jean Margaritis

Posted under The Vision

Jean Margaritis
My life path seemed to take me directly to the work of The G.R.O. Foundation.  During my undergraduate studies in anthropology, I focused heavily on the shape and transformation of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.  I found the situation so compelling that I signed up for the US Peace Corps in 2004 and requested to be sent to southern Africa.  When I received my assignment as an HIV/AIDS to Lesotho, I was ecstatic even though I knew very little about the small mountain kingdom.  I was fortunate enough to live with a Basotho family for two years and experience the beautiful culture of Lesotho.  In those two years, I was surrounded by the reality of HIV/AIDS and saw very intimately how devastating the disease is to community.  It was this experience that propelled me pursue my Masters degree in Social Development and Health from the Institute of International Health and Development at Queen Margaret University in the UK.  After completing my studies, I returned to Lesotho to complete my thesis in participatory project development.   I am returning in December 2008 for one to two years to work with our local counterparts to develop and expand The G.R.O. Foundation’s projects in Lesotho.

Something keeps calling me back to Lesotho.  Perhaps it’s because of the strong bonds I have with the community, the pace of life, the red sand between my toes, or the sounds children laughing and the smells of homemade bread cooking over the wood fire.  Ultimately I return because of the people - because of our mutual commitments to work towards a better life for all.

Posted under The Vision