’Mantoetse Maama
Standard Lesotho Bank, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Lesotho and Send a Cow Lesotho, presented four double-orphans living in Ha Matala with a two-roomed house on Tuesday last week.
The bank allocated M50 000 for the purchase of building material for the house through its Bank@home programme, and then teamed-up with the two humanitarian organisations and members of the community to provide for this needy family.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Standard Lesotho Bank Chief Executive, Mpho Vumbukani, said the project was initiated last month as part of his organisation’s social responsibility programme.
“As a bank, we partnered with Habitat for Humanity to engage in this project through our corporate social responsibility programme. We decided to sponsor the construction of this two-roomed house for the Polile family as a direct response to the need for a decent, clean and safe shelter for this child-headed family,” Mr Vumbukani said.
On her part, Habitat for Humanity Lesotho National Director, ‘Mathabo Makutu said her organisation decided to be part of the project to ensure the Polile family had a decent home.
“We helped to build this house for these orphaned and vulnerable children so that they can have a better home and be able to go to school in the right frame of mind. Maybe in future, they will be able to help other vulnerable children,” Ms Makutu said.
In her address, Social Development Minister, ‘Matebatso Doti, thanked everyone who was part of the project.
“This initiative has come at a time the world is celebrating 25 years of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Countries which have signed this convention are making sure that people know and respect children’s rights and Lesotho is one of those signatories. I would like to thank Standard Lesotho Bank, Habitat for Humanity Lesotho, Send a Cow Lesotho and community members for this initiative,” Ms Doti said.
“These children are expected to be at school, and not having the responsibility of caring or providing for their siblings.”
A family representative, Mosupi Polile, thanked the sponsors and the community at large, for the home.
“This issue has been stressing me that my brother’s children live in a dilapidated shack. But I could not afford to build a better house for them. I have been helping the children with other responsibilities such as paying their school-fees, and buying them food and clothes.
“I would like to thank the sponsors for this house, which has now afforded these children a decent shelter,” Mr Polile said.
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