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.