Tsitsi Matope
MASERU — The Maseru Women Senior Citizens Association is on a fundraising drive meant to raise money for the renovation of their new offices in Maseru West and boost their support programmes. The golden girls aged between 60 and over 80 years are to soon leave their current offices, a house donated to them by the government many years ago and earmarked for demolition, to operate from another house in Maseru West.
A couple of old government houses in the area were this year demolished to make way for new structures. “Our concern is that the house is dilapidated more than our current offices. We would like to renovate it for our own safety,” the association’s general secretary, Malebohang Molete said last Thursday.
The 30-member association also runs various empowerment projects, which Molete said needed a financial boost. “We would like to reach out to more elderly people and help them significantly. At the moment we are unable to maximise our efforts due to limited funds,” she said. The women run various projects which empower other elderly women to know their rights, start income generating projects, understand diseases that affect them and home-based care.
As part of their fundraising initiatives, the association last Friday held a Dinner and Dance Fashion Show at a local hotel. The event was supported by Her Majesty Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Bereng Seeiso, who is also the patron of the association, some corporate organisations and ministries of Social Development and Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation.
“We are thankful to both His Majesty King Letsie III and Her Majesty for their support this time around and over the years. They have demonstrated that they do not only receive but also give. “We would like to appreciate all our partners who were also there for us.” Molete said Her Majesty, in particular, has been at the forefront of supporting projects that empower elderly people while His Majesty always remembers them during Christmas.
However, Molete said they were unable to raise enough money during the dinner and dance. “We are hoping that in the spirit of this festive season, well wishers would come forward and support us in various ways that can help uplift the lives and the spirits of the elderly people.”
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