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Background
Lesotho is a small mountainous country completely encircled by South Africa. Economically, the country has had its ups and downs in recent years, but HIV/AIDS is threatening the hard-won progress that’s been made. World Vision Australia currently funds seven projects in Lesotho:
- Three child sponsorship projects
- One project co-funded by AusAID, the Australian Government’s overseas aid agency, and Australian donors
- Three projects funded by Australian donors
A brief description of two of the projects World Vision Australia supports:
Nthabiseng Area Development Programme
This child sponsorship project aims to alleviate poverty in the Nthabiseng community. Specific areas of need include education, health and agriculture.
| Education: Lesotho’s Government started phasing in free education in 2000. While more children have the opportunity to go to school, overcrowding is becoming more common, especially in primary schools. Project staff are working with school management and parents to improve school facilities. Last year, the project helped one school build a two-classroom block and provided desks for 125 students who were previously using the local church as a classroom. |
| Health: Sanitation is a major concern. Human waste is found in gullies and open spaces, spreading disease. The project helps families to construct improved latrines. So far, 320 have been built, both for families and in public places, and children are much healthier as a result. Since HIV/AIDS is spreading in the country, the project also runs training workshops and community dialogues so that people are more aware of the virus and how to prevent it. This has led to the community taking more responsibility for supporting people living with HIV/AIDS, as well as for the increasing number of orphans. |
| Agriculture: Farmers receive training in agricultural techniques, such as using manure as fertiliser, and are assisted to buy seeds. Last year, on average farmers harvested six bags of grain for their family’s use, compared with four bags the previous year. |
Nthabiseng & Nazareth Food Security Project
This project supplements two child sponsorship projects by focusing on developing a reliable food supply for the community year-round. It promotes the Machobane Farming System, a locally developed approach to agriculture that uses intercropping and low-cost farming techniques.
A variety of activities are used to help farmers improve their knowledge and increase their production, including:
- Formal training sessions in techniques such as preparing and using organic compost, soil conservation and crop rotation
- Local field days and study tours to other areas where farmers can share ideas and methods
- Trials of different seeds to see which ones are most productive for the local area
While most of the project activities focus on farming methods, training is also provided in post-harvest techniques: food storage, processing (such as drying and bottling) and preparation.
This project is funded under the AusAID-NGO Cooperation Program, in which the Australian Government provides 75% of funds and public donations provide 25%.
Note: Other World Vision projects in Lesotho are funded by World Vision offices in other countries. The above information only relates to projects funded by World Vision Australia.
Updated May 2006
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