Limpho Sello
THE Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) recently donated M82 500 to secure energy saving stoves for 50 houses that were built by the Habitat for Humanity Lesotho (HHL) for disadvantaged people.
Speaking at the handover ceremony at the Lesotho National Commission for UNESCO in Maseru, HHL National Director, Mathabo Makuta said they were confident their partnership with the power utility through its Corporate Social Initiative (CSI) would go a long way in helping them fulfil their mission of transforming lives for the better.
Ms Makuta said the partnership came at an opportune time when they decided to embark on larger fundraising initiatives to support vulnerable groups including vulnerable children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
“This was in line with the revised vulnerable group housing programme in 2015, as a result of the growing need for decent and affordable home for these groups to restore their dignity, self- reliance and stability through shelter,” Ms Makuta said.
She said they had also decided to implement the energy saving stoves project after realising they were needed in the houses they built for vulnerable people.
“We were aware for a very long time that there is a need for the stoves but the challenge was that we only got funding to provide decent housing and nothing else.
“So, we had to think out of the box approach corporates that can assist.
“We then approached LEC who liked the idea and decided to donate money for the construction of stoves for 50 houses that we will be building,” Ms Makuta said, adding the stoves were safe and would also keep the houses warm during winter.
“We do not have a strong financial muscle to go back to the houses we have already built but if there is a good Samaritan willing to fund us we will definitely go back to the homes because this is a need for the stoves in rural households.”
For his part, LEC Acting General Manager Cooperative Services Ben Masoabi said LEC had a corporative social responsibility to give back to the community.