Help Lesotho - Champions

International Women’s Day Event
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Girls, Women and Grannies as Agents and Leaders of Change in Lesotho

On March 24, 2010, another successful CIHR diversity event was hosted by the Representative Workforce Champion, Kathryn Moore.

Jennifer Parr, M.B.A., Chair of the Board, Help Lesotho, provided an informative and riveting presentation on the crisis situation and plight of women in Lesotho, complete with her personal photos, music and articles brought back from her many trips to that country.

To an audience of approximately 50 employees, Jennifer did not mince her words as she outlined the specific development challenges related to HIV/AIDS and gender equity and described some of the Help Lesotho programs such as the Grandmother Support Program and a variety of Leadership Development Programs, including the Basotho Girls Leadership Corp, that have been put into place to help address these pressing challenges and develop leadership.

Following the presentation, employees became actively engaged in the question and answer period. They expressed their amazement at how much has been accomplished by this small Ottawa based NGO, while recognizing the sober reality of how much more still needs to be achieved to mitigate the crisis situation in Lesotho.

Helping the Women of Lesotho

12/4/2009
By Mr. Richard Life

Lesotho is a small country bordered on all sides by South Africa. After a visit to Lesotho two years ago, Lakefield College School Grade 12 student Robin Prest became committed to helping the girls and women of this impoverished country improve their lives. Through the "Pearls for Girls" (P4G) program, Robin has personally raised over $10,000 dollars for the "Help Lesotho" project.

Over the past five years, the Help Lesotho project has raised nearly $4 million to support educational and community development programs in Lesotho, Southern Africa. Lesotho badly needs this help; for example, over 40% of the children of Lesotho have been orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This week, the King of Lesotho came to Ottawa to express his thanks for the work of the Help Lesotho project. On Tuesday, November 30 - International AIDS Day - the King was welcomed by over 500 students, teachers, and parents from 18 different schools including Lakefield College School at the Turnbull School in Ottawa. As a result of her outstanding volunteer work, Robin Prest was asked to address the King at a formal assembly for all the schools. Robin spoke eloquently about youth leadership in general, and her work for Lesotho in particular. Following Robin's speech, the King of Lesotho thanked all of the people who had worked so hard to help his country.

Lakefield is very proud of Robin's inspiring work!

Ref: link

July 7, 2009

During the very busy last days of the school week, several people came to me with money and cheques for Motati school. It seems that more and more children and their families are taking it upon themselves to organize fundraisers big and small. Our twinning project with Motati school is taking a life of its own, which of course delights me. I am sending you these latest contributions with the hope that you may be able to take some of the money with you when you go to Lesotho and that you may be able to purchase some necessities for the children who need them.

The biggest contribution comes from one of our smallest kids. Anjelina Comber in kindergarten has been selling chocolate bars at her dad’s work for the whole year and has raised over $600 doing it. One of our teachers, Cindy Lister, has requested that the parents contribute to a donation for Help Lesotho instead of a year-end teacher gift, so we collected $145 and we also bought one of the Help Lesotho brooches for her. Other children have had twonies birthday parties, where they request their guests to bring a twonie for Lesotho instead of a gift, some have done chores and some have organized lemonade stands. Our librarian has been growing plants with the Friday club students and our Lesotho group has been busy making and selling bead bracelets. All in all, this adds up to $1,241.88 or quite a few pairs of shoes for the children of Motati school.

We hope that the winter in Lesotho will not be too cold and that Help Lesotho has been able to provide some clothing to the neediest in time. Thank you for everything that you do. It is a privilege working with you.

Sincerely,

Martine Lunke
Parent liaison, Deep Cove School Lesotho project
Deep Cove, British Columbia

Happy Canada Day from Help Lesotho’s staff in Lesotho, July 1, 2009

A very Happy Canada Day to all!

Well done to those in the Lesotho office who made a great effort to dress in red and white to mark the occasion!

Two special mentions are warranted here: ‘M’e Ntea (2nd from the right front) arrived looking very beautiful in all red and white as well as ‘M’e Mampaka (centre front) who would not let ‘M’e Ntea steal the show and, belatedly, made a big impression!

Happy Canada Day and thank you so very much to our friends in Canada.

Students making pearl bracelets for Help Lesotho

A group of Nicholson Catholic College students have become jewelery-makers to help women and children in both their own country and in Africa.

The seven female International Baccalaureate (IB) students are devoting the month of June to stringing together and selling pearl bracelets to fund two causes: Help Lesotho, a Canadian organization that funds leadership development camps for youth, often girls, in the small African nation of Lesotho and the local Three Oaks Foundation women and children's shelter.

The seven female IB full diploma candidates, who have completed exams, are making 143 bracelets from freshwater cultivated fair trade pearls from Hong Kong. The fundraising initiative is run through an Ottawa-based organization, Pearls 4 Girls.

Corinne Morden said she has never taken part in a project that helps people outside the community.

"It's fun," Corinne said. "We've been learning about issues women have not only in Canada but the rest of the world and in our own community. It's kind of a wake-up call."
Her twin sister Andrea said the project also allows the students to get information about the IB program out into the community.

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"It's not just about academics in IB, it''s also about being a global citizen," Andrea said.

Charlene Landry-Kyte, IB co-ordinator, said this is the first year the students have chosen a culminating project to work on, but it will continue in subsequent years.

Landry-Kyte said the IB program's 'learner profile' philosophy fits well with that of the Catholic education system.

"Thinking globally and acting locally is a mandate in IB and the Catholic graduate expectations," she said.

Student Jessica Jordan said it is a "neat" experience to take on a project students can relate to.

"We have an opportunity to be leaders in our community and help people be leaders in other communities," Jordan said. "It's a good fit for our group."

Each bracelet made by the girls has 20 pearls and 20 sterling silver spacers. They will be sold June 8 and 9 at the Bay View Mall, June 11 and 12 at the Quinte Mall and June 13 at the Napanee Mall. A general donation jar will also be available.

The students will make a presentation on the project to staff and parents June 16.

Parkwood staff decided to 'Get Wet for Lesotho'

As part of a global awareness initiative at Parkwood Heights Elementary School, students and staff were involved in a number of educational projects as well as a number of fundraising activities throughout the school year for the tiny kingdom of Lesotho in southern Africa. The money has been donated to Help Lesotho, a Canadian organization that supports projects in Lesotho. Get Wet for Lesotho was the name of one such fundraiser, and it involved students purchasing glasses of water to throw at participating staff members. There was also a pie-throwing contest with four members of the Bathurst City Police taking part: Deputy Chief Bernie Allain, and Constables Judy Turple, Jeff Chiasson, and Andrew Collins. Students Kevin Frenette and Adam Lanteigne are shown throwing a cream pie and water at Kindergarten teacher Pauline Thomas. A sum of $420 was raised from this event (including a donation from Frank Sullivan on behalf of the Bathurst firefighters, Local 3040 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees), bringing this year's total to $4,430 to date.

Chipman Elementary School in Chipman, New Brunswick buys shoes for the children of Lesotho

Under the direction of Janique Smythe, this rural school of 120 kindergarten-grade 5 children raised $682.76 to buy shoes because they understood the hardship of Basotho children in Help Lesotho's twinned schools having to walk as far as two hours each way to school in bare feet in the snow. It is not what one would think of Africa but Lesotho has is the third highest country in the world.

Ms. Janique writes: "One little boy in grade one brought in his entire piggy bank! His teacher was not sure he had his parents' permission so she told him to only put a handful in the can. He went home very upset. His grandmother called the school and explained how upset Jordan was and that he told her, "It is an emergency in Africa! The children need shoes!" He brought the piggy bank back the next day and donated over $90! He was very proud!"

http://chipman.nbed.nb.ca/Welcome.html

Children helping children - that is what Help Lesotho is about!

Corpus Christi Elementary and St. Thomas Aquinas High School make a difference

On May 27th, St. Thomas Aquinas CHS welcomed Dr. Peg Hebert, co-founder and executive director of Help Lesotho, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of desperately needy orphans, vulnerable children and families in Lesotho, Africa. Staff and students were thrilled to present Dr. Hebert with a cheque for $8,900 for the cause. Over the past three years, the school has raised over $15,000 to help support Khethisa High School in Lesotho. Click here for more info.

Belleville Rotary Raises Funds for Help Lesotho

On April 25th the Belleville Rotary Club held its 3rd Poker Walk to raise funds to help those affected by HIV/AIDS, both locally and internationally. Over the last two years funds from this Walk have been allocated to projects in Lesotho including the Rental Units at Bytown Orphanage, Sekamaneng. Click here for more info.

Gwen Ruston raises close to $9,000 running the Boston Marathon for Help Lesotho

Gwen, a high school teacher in Ottawa, ran the Boston Marathon April 20, 2009 in 3:39:26 with 26,000 other people. The difference for her was that she was running for orphans and grandmothers in Lesotho. Click here for more info.

Lentils Report: Arrival and Initial Distribution

On behalf of the recipients of the donated lentils, Help Lesotho wishes to sincerely thank David Newman of Commodious Trading Incorporated and all those who support him for the generous donations of green lentils. Click here for more info.

Elementary school continues to raise money to helpsmall African kingdom

Parkwood Heights Elementary School is in its third school year as a supporter of the tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho in Southern Africa.

These students from Parkwood Heights Elementary School are among the students who made a donation to Caring Hearts for Lesotho. Click here for more info.

MVHS teachers join students to raise money for Help Lesotho

MVHS teachers Melanie Maltby-Ingersoll and Terry Whalen Jr. are working with the club members to raise the money for an Ottawa- based charitable organization called Help Lesotho. Click here for more info.

Students from Innisdale Secondary School’s Orange dance team perform at the annual Celebration of Dance in Barrie Recital

Dancers from a number of local high schools and dance studios took part in the event that raises funds to sponsor two African children through the Help Lesotho organization. Click on the video icon to the right for more information.

Help Lesotho volunteer recognized by the London Free Press

Name: Catherine McInnes
Age: 47
Occupation: Elementary school teacher
Profile: McInnes is a teacher loved by her pupils. She makes them more aware of the needs of others and challenges them to do something. She runs a Me to We club at school.
Quote: "I'm addicted to doing things. It's just the way I'm wired. When something moves me, I can't help being passionately involved."

Thu, May 8, 2008; By LONDON FREE PRESS

Parkwood Heights Elementary Schools holds "PJ Literacy Party for Lesotho"

Parkwood Heights Elementary School in Bathurst, New Brunswick has been working hard to raise funds for Help Lesotho while building awareness of global citizenship among staff and students. The school recently held a "P. J. Literacy Party for Lesotho". The evening began with a general assembly and a presentation on global citizenship. Then students of each grade level and their families met with a guest reader who read a story on the theme of global citizenship.

OECTA RAISES $120,000 FOR HL YOUTH CENTRE

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association of Ottawa (OECTA) and its 15,000 teachers have spent two years raising funds for a youth centre in the village of Pitseng. Pitseng has four HL twinned schools, hundreds of orphans and vulnerable children and almost no resources. May 15, 2008, OECTRA hosted a wonderful fundraiser auction to raise $5,600!!!! OECTA teachers are reaching out to children in great need by providing a place to support thousands over many years.

A heartfelt thank you from the villagers to OECTA and President Elaine McMahon.

Photo: Left to right: Elaine McMahon, Barbara Phalen, Peg Herbert, Mark Woermke, Victoria Cybulski-Blank, Sandra Fonseca

Students raise awareness of Millennium Development Goals in aid of Help Lesotho

Students at Sugarloaf Senior High School are part of School District 15 in northern New Brunswick. Their goal is to raise awareness of the eight Millennium Development Goals for a better world through international events and forums. Each month is dedicated to one goal with funding going to Help Lesotho. Activities have included "Stand up & Speak out" event in October, and "Bagging Groceries" event on World AIDS Day & Int. Volunteer Day celebration in December. Activities planned for 2008 include information displays & awareness campaigns, T-shirt days & Donation jars and bookmarks for Help Lesotho Youth Leadership Camp. Over $1000 has been raised this school year.

Reaching Out to Help Lesotho

Over the past year, students in Ms Hallam’s Grade 5/6 class have been very involved in raising money for Help Lesotho through events such as the Fall Bake Sale, Christmas Gingerbread Raffle, Chinese New Year Raffle, and the Easter Movie afternoon. On May 30th, this caring group of students will have the opportunity to present Dr. Peg Herbert, Founder and Executive Director of Help Lesotho, with the more than $1000.00 they have raised to "create a future for those who are left".
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Radio Station Celebrates Help Lesotho Staff and Volunteers

Ottawa 98.5 Fm The Jewel came to the HL Ottawa office with coffee, mugs and goodies to give the staff and volunteers a wonderful coffee break. It was fun and much appreciated for all their hard work.

DMS Students raise Money for Lesotho

District 15 School board, in northern New Brunswick, has raised $25,000 for Help Lesotho since January. Students from Dalhousie Middle School, the smallest middle school in District, but they certainly have spirit and heart! As the Superintendent John McLaughlin writes to Peg Herbert: "A group of students from this school attended your presentation in Belledune and they left with a real commitment to make a difference. They organized a "wake-a-thon" this past weekend and raised over $2000 to send to Help Lesotho.

The Rockcliffe Park Public School
Help Lesotho Party Giving Initiative

The following RPPS children have chosen to forgo party gifts in favour of supporting their peers at Guardian Angel Primary School (click on the photo for a larger version). For more information check out the RPPS page on this site.

Total amount raised by this scheme to date*: $3532.24

*as of December 31, 2008. This section will be updated regularly.

Storm fails to halt tea in aid of Help Lesotho

The annual Christmas tea and bake sale at Holy Trinity, North Gower, in December 2006 in aid of the Help Lesotho project, became a "movable feast" - thanks to the area's first major storm of the Winter. Because the church's basement hall is small, the event was to have been held at the nearby United Church hall. However, the storm the day before left both Holy Trinity and the United Church without power.

The event raised $1,200. "We were very pleased, especially considering the challenges of the power outage!" said Carolyn. (more)

‘Gather the Women and Save the Children’

Kingston Grandmother Connection is a group of women committed to raising awareness and funds for grandmothers and their orphan grandchildren in Lesotho. Beginning with 4 members in March 2006, KGC now has 122 members and has raised $40,000 since September 2006 for Help Lesotho. KGC funds educate these orphan grandchildren through HL Granny`s Child Fund. A monthly donation of $38.75 keeps an orphan in school. Those interested in making a donation, please make cheques payable to Help Lesotho and mail to Janet Swaine, 1098 King St. W.#26,Kingston ON K7M-8J1.

http://www.g2gkingston.ca Kingstongrandmotherconnection@gmail.com

Musicians raise funds for Help Lesotho AIDS orphans HA!MAN, Francois Le Roux, South Africa, knows well the ravages of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa and supports Help Lesotho through benefit concerts each year in Ottawa. Francois is a spontaneous and creative cellist who pushes musical boundaries in an inspirational and spell bounding way, employing a brilliant array of styles and means of expression. Operating independently, he travels extensively and has gathered an excited following the world over. Visit www.hamanworld.com and click on "music" to hear a selection.

Lenore Dixon, Belleville ON, has been a child sponsor through the Bytown Orphanage Sponsorship Program from the beginning. Her new release CD entitled ‘THE GREENLEAF VARIATIONS’ includes a song ‘Tebello of Lesotho” inspired by her sponsored child. When Tebello heard this beautiful song, especially for her, she was transfixed. To hear a sample click here. Five dollars from each CD sale goes Help Lesotho. To order a copy contact Ms. Dixon at lenoredixon@sympatico.ca.

Kate Reid, Vancouver BC, supports Help Lesotho with a portion of the sales of her recent CD ‘Comin’ Alive”. Visit www.myspace.com/katereidacoustic or www.katereid.net. To hear the song "Identity" click here. Kate has been inspired by neo-folk-activists and singer-songwriters Ani Difranco, Ferron, Tracy Chapman, and Indigo Girls.

Music posted on this website with permission from the artists.

Original Paintings by Marie O'Neil

We invite you to view the painting exhibition of Basotho children by artist Marie O’Neill. Click here for examples. Contact donations@helplesotho.ca to purchase or commission a painting. Funds raised may be allocated to the school or project of your choice.

"Pearls for Girls"

The first focus of Pearls for Girls will be to support girls orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Lesotho, Africa, the country with the third highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in the world. Through the charitable organization, Help Lesotho.

The anticipated launch of Pearls for Girls will be in spring 2007. Check out the developing web site at www.pearls4girls.org

Octegenarians Do It Again for AIDS orphans in Lesotho

December 2006

The Masonville Manor Help Lesotho Committee (Estelle, Fran, Dorothy, Helen & Flo) in London, Ontario have raised a grand total of $4300 at their Help Lesotho Bazaar 2006! The committee has decided they would like this money to go to the Benevolent Fund to help wherever needed.

Catholic teachers launch help for Lesotho

Carleton’s Catholic teachers have launched a campaign to aid residents of Lesotho, a mountain kingdom in Southern Africa ravaged by poverty and HIV/AIDS. The Catholic Teachers in Action Help Lesotho Build Thakaning campaign aims to raise money to build a community centre in Lesotho with the involvement of local youth. Help Lesotho is a charitable organization. Lesotho’s two million people suffer from HIV/AIDS incident rates of 25 and 55 per cent.(more)

Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada, her daughter Victoria Cate Burton and Bill Clinton hold the Help Lesotho 2006 Calendar

Displayed by permission of Photographer Dean Casavechia www.photodelic.com

Octogenarians show us how to raise money for Help Lesotho

The residents of Masonville Manor Retirement Residence in London, Ontario held a Help Lesotho yard sale and BBQ fundraiser on Saturday, July 29, 2006. Through the efforts of the residents, staff and volunteers and many generous donations they raised $5,400.00!

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Charity learned at home, By Ian Gillespie, London Free Press, August 2006

HL Board of Directors with Stephen Lewis and Peg Herbert

L-R Jennifer Parr, Rob Nelson, Peg Herbert, Stephen Lewis, Shelagh M’Gonigle
(Missing: Cindy Scott)

Quinte Chapter of Help Lesotho Calendar Man:

Rev. Ross Bruleigh worked tirelessly to sell HL Calendars 2006 and raise awareness of the situation in Lesotho last year, raising the most money ($9,000) from calendars and selling the most. QHL sponsors Bytown Orphanage in Sekamaneng, Lesotho. Their team works vigorously to raise funds for the children. Can someone out there match him this year?

The difference one boy can make!

Dear ‘M’e Peg,

The fund raisers we have done are The Snack Cart, We got some money from The Christmas concert, The Radio raffle, Donations, We are going to bring in loonies and toonies (the money) on pancake Tuesday and before March break we will have a school movie.

I am Glad to help. :-)

Wyatt, aged 10, Grade 5 Tecumseh Public School, London, Ontario

November 19, 2005

Help Lesotho Float at the Belleville Santa Claus Parade 2005

Click here for more pictures