Mantsase Children's Home
PO Box 4, Mohale's Hoek, 800, Lesotho
MANTS'ASE NEWSLETTER
MAY 2010
Mantsase is a registered NGO and an orphanage dedicated to creating a loving, stable, and safe home environment so that children who have lost their parents can grow up without having to worry about where their next meal will come from, how to pay for their education, or whether they will be abused. Half of our running costs come from Prince's Harry's charity Sentebale and Msizi Africa funds certain other projects. This means that nearly half of our running costs, as well as hospitalizations, come from private donations. Mantsase's monthly running costs are about R45,000 (about $6,000). This includes groceries, food, gas, electricity, paraffin, health care, petrol, and salaries, to name the major costs. To give you an idea of how much things cost here: three meals a day cost a total of R10/child ($1.33) and electricity costs us about R1,500 ($200) a month. Much of our funding outside of Sentebale and Msizi has dried up, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to pay for even simple things like pens and notebooks for school. If you are interested in helping us, please either visit us at www.bmycharity.com/mantsasechildrenshome to donate directly over the internet or email us at mantsasechildrenshome@yahoo.com to learn more.
If you are interested in giving to Mantsase, we have a new website, www.bmycharity.com/mantsasechildrenshome to receive financial donations. All proceeds go directly to Mantsase through our partner, Msizi Africa.
MANTSASE COUNSELOR
All of the children at Mantsase have experienced the loss of a loved one, and many have also suffered from abuse. Unfortunately very little psychological support is available in Lesotho to help people cope with dramatic events in their lives and most of our children have received no help in managing emotionally and mentally the trauma through which they have lived. Some of the children in particular continue to show clear signs that they are not healing emotionally, and that they need assistance. Mantsase has been interested for some time in hiring a full-time, long-term, qualified, and experienced counselor who understands both the language and the culture from which these children come. We have found a woman interested in working at the home, but are struggling to fund her salary. If you are interested in helping to finance the salary for a professional counselor, either in part or in full, please contact us at mantsasechildrenshome@yahoo.com
BIRTHDAYS
JUNE:
Relebohile - June 10
Hlalele - June 17
Titi - June 17
Ithumeleng - June 25
Khabane - June 28
A special wish for each one to have a wonderful and blessed Birthday!
NUL VOLUNTEERS
Mantsase welcomes two Basotho volunteers from the National University of Lesotho for six weeks. The girls, Angela and Likeleli, are studying social work and are with us over their winter break through a volunteer program at the university. They are working with our children individually, to counsel each one according to his or her situation. They are enjoying themselves immensely, though they say that they have encountered some challenges here. One challenge is that part of helping the children is talking with surviving family members, trying to bridge the gaps between the children and their families, and hopefully reuniting them. This has been difficult because the children come from all over Lesotho, and transport to many places is hard to come by. Angela and Likeleli are still trying, though, and hope to return to Mantsase during other school breaks.
GOODBYE DOMINIQUE
Dominique is an American volunteer who arrived at Mantsase last September and has worked closely with our children and with Sentebale over the past 10 months. She is leaving at the end of June and will be greatly missed by all of our children. She wants to say a goodbye in her own words:
"I cannot believe it has been nearly a year since I first arrived at Mantsase. It has been the most meaningful, spiritual, magical, and beautiful time of my life. These children have become my family and this land will forever hold a special place in my heart. I hope to return soon and often, as I feel that my work in Lesotho is far from finished. I will be returning home to the United States on June the 29th. It will be a bittersweet goodbye, but I feel that this chapter has come to a close and it is time for me to touch back to my roots. As my mother says "You need to go back to spring forward." I wish to thank all of the wonderful people I have met here for all they do. Thanks to all of the many mothers I have collected here for looking after me and guiding me. Thank you to the brothers and sisters I have found in the children. I will never forget you and I will live my life in your honor."
PETER
Mantsase has hired a new assistant Manager. Peter, who originally hails from Uganda, has been living in Lesotho for many years and working as a secondary school teacher. He began tutoring at Mantsase as a volunteer last December, moved to the home as an employee earlier this month, and hit the ground running. He is in charge of monitoring the children's education and the older boys' dorm room, overseeing devotions twice daily, a daily reading club with the older children, and discipline. There has already been an improvement in the children's behavior, neatness, and timely attendance at devotions and dinner. Wecome to Peter. We are excited to have you!
THANK YOU
Thank you to Craig Dreves for donating Crocs to all of our children. We also thank the new Peace Corps Country Director for helping to get the shoes to us.
A big thanks to Msizi Africa for raising the funds to build an infirmary on Mantsase's grounds. Construction on that project will begin soon.
MONTHLY BIO
Kahlolo is eight years old. He is in Standard 3 at school, where his favourite subject is Sesotho. He loves to play ball and he loves to eat bread. His favourite colour is blue and his best friend at Mantsase is Khauta. When he grows up, he wants to be a teacher.
PHOTOS
KHOTSO, PULA, NALA
GO IN PEACE