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BROOCHES TO REPRESENT AIDS, ORPHANED and
ABUSED CHILDREN
 CANADA:
When that one brooch came back to Canada from Lesotho, people
asked to buy it. The African designed brooches were lovely; the
symbolism of the three girls was poignant. The Sassy Bead
Company generously donated all the beads required for making the
brooches to assist Help Lesotho with brooches to raise funds for
AIDS orphans and vulnerable children in Lesotho. With the third
highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in the world, over 30% of the
country's children are orphaned.
 LESOTHO: Mosotho woman, 27 year old 'M'e Mamosa Lekhera, lives near the
mine workers in Maseru, the capital of Lesotho, with her two
daughters, five year old Mamosa and three year old Thuto. Her
husband died of AIDS in 2005. The measure of health
deterioration with HIV is known as CD4 count. When the count has
fallen below 200, one has full blown AIDS and, where available,
begins treatment on anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs). We have been
very concerned about 'M'e Mamosa as her CD4 count fell to 78, to
42 and then 23. She was clearly dying. She had no appetite and
spent much of her time coughing. She began making the difficult
pins when she was very sick. She traveled to another village to
learn how to make them. She wanted to survive. She works so hard
to make each one, knowing that this is a small future for her.
Help Lesotho learned of 'M'e Mamosa through a nun who was trying
to help her. Before becoming involved in the Help Lesotho
Beading Project, she used to sell spices door to door but no one
could buy. Her health is improving with the drugs and she is
eager to work. "I see a big difference in my life since I
started making the beads. I can pay for Mosa's school fees and
fed the baby. I know there is something wrong with my eyes and I
can see a doctor now. We do not have a home so I will try by all
means to work hard on the pins to have a home for me and my
daughters. This really has changed my life and I thank you very
much". Help Lesotho will pay for new glasses. Just before she
leaves, she says, "May God bless you greatly so that you may
help many more of our suffering people".
 LESOTHO:
A Mosotho woman, wife, mother to three sons and one adopted
orphaned boy (ages; 9,12,14,16), 'M'e Mabataung Motholo is her
family's sole breadwinner and no stranger to Lesotho's
hardships. Times have been difficult since her husband lost his
employment with the Lesotho Electrical Co. due to cut backs.
With four sons to feed and put through school, 'M'e Motholo
learned the versatile craft of beading to support her family. In
2001, she learned to bead HIV/AIDS brooches, knowing the need to
raise the level of HIV/AIDS awareness in her country is great.
"AIDS has spread the way it has in Lesotho because of
desperation, of hunger, of poverty" she confides. 'M'e
Motholo now produces an array of beaded jewelry and decorative
belts. Her wares are sold on commission at the Leribe Craft
Centre. 'M'e Motholo is inspired by Help Lesotho's brooch
project and the symbolism of the little AIDS, orphaned and
abused beaded girls design. "I am honored to be helping in any
way I can, making these pins. I feel it of great importance to
be helping the children of Lesotho. This is a great thing. I am
touched that Canadians have seen our need and have come to
intervene. Everybody needs support." Juggling the
responsibilities of household chores, raising a family and
working in the fields, 'M'e Motholo is able to complete only one
of these complex brooches a day, despite her dedication to work.
"When the sun is asleep, there is only candle light. If I had
electricity, I may be able to try. As it is, I often have to
fetch my son to help me thread the needle with his fresh eyes."
Since she began in mid-December 2005, 'M'e Motholo has trained a
young woman to help increase the production of brooches for
fundraising in Canada, well aware that her work and dedication
is a crucial step to helping the AIDS, orphaned and abused
children of Lesotho.
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