The Lesotho Red Cross Society (LRCS) extended the housing renovation and construction for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) to Berea district since the beginning of January 2010. The house renovation project is supported under Global Fund Round 7 HIV/AIDS grant as part of essential services for OVC project which include shelter and other basic needs such as food packages and home gardens.

Caption: The paralyzed Mapitso Lephema and her two OVC also benefited from housing project

The total of 60 OVC families will benefit in Berea district, whereby 35 will be renovated while 25 of the houses that were beyond repair will receive the newly constructed two-room house for each family. All benefited houses are situated at Lithabaneng community council.

The selection of the beneficiaries was conducted jointly by support groups, chief, community councilor, district social worker and Lesotho Red Cross Society community member in the area. The beneficiaries are families of Orphans and Vulnerable Children whose shelter need repair to ensure the safety of the children.

One of the beneficiary is Mrs ‘Mapitso Lephema 62 years who is one-side paralyzed and live with her daughter and two grand-children. Due to her sickness she could not repair her mud house and therefore as the time went, the house fell and she had no means of repairing and no one could help her.

“Thank you Lesotho Red Cross and Global Fund for the beautiful shelter, no one on earth could give somebody a home like this, I have no enough words to express my feelings,” said excited Lephema.

Another beneficiary is Mrs. Malimakatso Lebosa, 94 years, live with two grand children who are orphans.  Mrs. Lebosa is now old and has no energy to work on her house.  She was blind for years until when she was operated recently at Mapoteng hospital. During the time when she was blind, her house fell and she could not see. “Now I have clear vision but I could not repair my home because I no long have energy and my joints are in pain.”

The happily Mrs. Lebosa thanked the donors for the grant that helped the needy with a safe shelter. “I could not abandon this place because it is my home and I have to take care of these two orphans whose parents died. I m very grateful on behalf of my grand children and may God give you more so that you can reach more needy people in the country.”

Other beneficiary were the twins in Child Headed Household (CHH), where their  parents died and left two twins alone at home where their elder brother and sister are married and left the house long ago. The two children, a boy and girl both 17 years completed primary school and are not able to proceed to high school because they don’t have death certificates as a proof of their parents’ death in order to secure Government secondary bursary.

The children’s house is leaking and the door has no lock. This family will also benefit from renovation project to ensure their safety.    

Lithabaneng council in Berea district is the second council to benefit from Red Cross housing project, similar project was implemented in Mohlakeng council in Maseru district where 50 families benefited include 39 OVC houses renovated and 11 were newly constructed. After Berea the project will be extended to Mokhotlong where 50 OVC families are set to benefit.