St. Camillus Center would like to thank the following beautiful people for donating to the Stebo Fund. We are half way to our goal of building this marvelous woman a house. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your generosity and love!!!
Lori Watts
Vickie and Jerry Aldridge
Kimberly Philipps
Dawn and Gary Craner
Elizabeth Littman
Markus Degirmenci
Maria Steele
Pete Neumann
Weej Mudge
Zoe Malley
A special thank you to Monica Hopkins, Tanya Allmaras, and Grace Malley!
The Center would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in helping the St. Camillus Center succeed in its mission of love and support for those living with HIV/AIDS.
His Honorable Bishop Sebastian Khoarai, OMI
Holy Cross Convent and Sr. Provincial Isadora Damane
Tacoma Lesotho Connection & Teresa Power-Drutis
Netherlands Lesotho Foundation
Irish Aid
CARE
South African Catholic Bishop's Conference
Holy Cross sisters of Germany, especially Sr. Fransiska
Global Fund
UNICEF
St. Clare Clinic in Lesotho
Missio
The Vatican
May God bless and keep everyone of you. We are proud to be friends with such wonderful people!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Stebo Fund Information
Me Mateboho's Story
I want to tell you a story about an extraordinary woman named 'M'e Mateboho. She is the most incredible mosotho I know, and definitely one of the best humans on the face of the Earth. Stebo (her nickname) is about 47 years old, not quite sure because she doesn't have a copy of her birth certificate and remembers only her birthday month, not the day or year. She speaks very little English but understands my butchered Sesotho very well. We have learned each other's mannerisms so well, we can tell when one is upset, happy, frustrated, or hungry just by looking at each other. She is one of my mothers here and also my best Basotho friend. She's about 5'4, maybe 170lbs, with a smile extending from ear to ear. She is constantly singing, laughing, or cracking jokes. She has a thing with my name. She finds it so funny my English name has so many parts (4) and my Sesotho name is just as long (Ausi Bophelo Manele Khoarai.) She walks around the Center doing various things just saying my name over and over again, chuckling to herself.
This woman works so hard. She comes to the Center Monday-Friday, usually the first one here in the morning and the last to leave in the evening. She gives whole new meaning to "busy as a bee". She is constantly doing something: sewing, knitting, cleaning the Center, gardening, counseling, taking patients to the clinic, taking care of her home-based patients, etc.! She has even taken in an orphan from her village named Kalebe. He is 9 years old and in Standard 2. They both live in her one room apartment and sleep in the same bed. He receives school fees from the Center and we like to think of him as our mascot. He is HIV+ just like Stebo, on ARVs, and is a shy but energetic young boy. He calls her mom and she thinks of him as her son.
For income, she makes and sells joala, traditional Basotho beer, but never touches it herself. She explained to me once, "Ke batla ho lula cau feela, na ha ke noa joala," she wants to live forever, so she cannot drink joala. She takes care of her personal garden which provides her with fresh vegetables year round. She also takes care of multiple patient's gardens to ensure they too have healthy diets. She has helped construct more than 20 keyhole gardens and taught nutrition and gardening to over 50 people in her village. She goes to church every Sunday (which lasts for 2.5 hours!) and is a Sister of Mary, a catholic support group for women. In addition, she also cleans my house, does my laundry, and eats lunch with me every Monday. I like to cook her American food to see what she likes. So far, anything with beef is a huge hit. (Not a fan of tuna though- bummer.)
She shines with optimism, determination, and everlasting compassion. She is never too busy to counsel someone, stopping whatever she is doing to help someone struggling with HIV, a spouse, rent, school fees, etc. For me, she has been a friend and comfort in the good and bad times. She was told about Teboho (my little guy that died) before I was, and immediately came to me with his aunt, Limpho. She took my hand, led me to the office, sat beside me and put her arms around me. Then nodded to Limpho to tell me the news. She held me while I cried. She was with me the entire way through his hospital stay, funeral, and during the weeks afterward, was always close by. We can't communicate in complex language, like discussions on God, but when it comes to how each other are feeling, we are right on target. She reminds me of the good stuff and I love making her jiggle with laughter. She will reside in my heart for the rest of my life.
I pray for her daily and hope she will live forever, or at least until she feels ready to go. Earlier this year, we had a scare concerning her health. She religiously takes her ARVs, a model patient in the best sense. When she went to the clinic to get her next round of ARVs, the clinic told her they were not in yet. She was surprised, the clinic orders these ARVs every month as they have hundreds of people waiting for these incredibly important pills. She walked back to the Center and never said a word. The next day she didn't show up at the Center and then two days passed without her. Sis J and I went to her house to see what was up. She was laying in bed, her face was swollen to double its normal size and bright red. She could barely open her eyes, her face was so puffy, and she was in obvious pain. She said she had pain in her eyes and it hurt to open them. When we lifted her out of bed to see how weak she was and she wobbled, not able to stand on her own. I took her health book (like a medical passport of sorts), and Sis J and I went to the clinic to get her ARVs. We literally were storming to the clinic, ranting the whole way about the irresponsibility of the clinic.
Upon arrival in the clinic, we entered a sea of humanity. There must have been a hundred people there. We sat for about an hour and I was getting VERY angry with this entire situation. So- I have to admit, I pulled the race card. I walked up to the doctor, explained I was a Peace Corps volunteer and would like to take 5 minutes of his time to see if I could get my very sick friend her ARVs. He smiled and took me and Sis J right into his office. He gave me her ARVs and apologized for "any inconvenience", then got up to escort us to the door. I was so taken aback by how fast the entire process was I got really angry. I asked him why the ARVs weren't here 3 days ago. He said, "We accidentally forgot the order on our last trip to Maseru and so had to drive back the next day to place it. The supplier wasn't able to give us our supply until the next day because he had to fill the regular orders first." He said all of this through a smile I quite frankly wanted to smack off his face. I know this man does an invaluable service to Lesotho and the Basotho, but forgetting his order was plain inexcusable. I asked him if he forsaw that happening again as it might mean my friend dying next time. He looked at me and said, "I certainly hope not." Sis J grabbed my hand at that point and we left. She was fuming as well. He wasn't taking responsibility, and since my skin color is light, we got in and out of there faster than anyone else. "You don't have HIV, why do you get it fast?" It wasn't a comment against me, she was mad at her people and at her country, for not loving themselves enough to take care of each other. She said she was glad I was there to get the pills but it shouldn't be like that. She's right!
We brought the pills to Stebo and in 2 days she was fully recovered, except for general weakness that lasted about a week. If she had gone any longer, she could have died, or built up an immunity to the 1st cycle of ARVs, leaving her with only one other option. (Once you become immune to an ARV cycle, you must start another and there are only 2 therapy tracks available in Lesotho. In the US there are 5.) When she came back to the Center, she told her story to everyone over and over again, and it actually brought people closer together by sharing her experience. The country however, is still faulting on their promise to support their HIV+ population. Just last month, the ENTIRE country was incapable of providing CD4 counts for anyone. Not one of the CD4 machines could work without the catalyst solution supplied by the Lesotho government. The government stopped supplying this catalyst because they placed the order late AND hadn't paid their remaining balance to the South African supplier. Absolutely disgusting!
Anyway- back to Stebo. She is a marvelous, courageous, extraordinary person who I would really love to help. She helps me so much already, I would like to return the love with a specific gift. She has been trying for years to save her meager earnings to buy a house. When she started helping me with the house, she asked me to keep half of every payment, like a mini-bank account. We keep a paper record of it and she can pull out money when she needs. This helps her because banks charge you for every withdrawal transaction. With joala and vegetable sales, combined with my weekly payment, she's never going to make enough for a house. It's just not possible. This is truly one of those situations that one cannot just "pull themselves up by their bootstraps". She is a strong, hard working woman who needs a break. Any takers?
Since she works hard and it's impossible for her to save up enough money, I want to build her a house. I have a friend in the camptown who owns the hardware store and will give me supplies at wholesale price. I have a PCV who is a trained architect and will draught the plans for me. I have PCVs in country willing to come down and build it. I have a chief who works with me often and will give me a fair price on a piece of land. I have a Bishop who will probably supply her with a stove, couch, and gas tank. (She gets pretty everything in my house when I leave: dishes, pictures, bed, mosquito net, etc.) What I don.t have is the funding for the supplies and land.
I am asking for your help. This is not for the Center. This is for one person. I cannot raise this kind money by myself or in Lesotho. According to the chief, the land would be R4,000 (about $600.00). The supplies will probably take about $1,400.00 or so. I can ensure everyone is updated on the progress with pictures, stories, etc. I can make vouchers for people who want to donate to the "Stebo Fund" as a present to someone else for holidays or birthdays. People could buy individual bricks and have their names written on the outside the brick, and each name will be blessed by the Bishop. I can provide anything you may want.
What do you guys think? Could you donate $20 to the Stebo Fund this year? Or if you wanna come out and help build it, feel free- you got a free place to stay! Right now, I think the best way is to send checks to my mother, Grace Malley. Make the checks payable to Zoe Malley, and in the subject line put Stebo Fund. Then she can make copies of these checks before she deposits them, so we can keep track of the funds. If you can think of a better way, let me know. (Unfortunately despositing checks here cost R100 per check (about $14 dollars right now, so we'd lose money if we deposited the checks directly into the bank in Lesotho.) Please email me at stcamilluscenter@gmail.com to get Grace's address.
Thank you all for your support in this endeavour. I only have 6 months left, so it's crunch time. We need to start building NOW!
Zoe Malley, US Peace Corps Volunteer, Lesotho
I want to tell you a story about an extraordinary woman named 'M'e Mateboho. She is the most incredible mosotho I know, and definitely one of the best humans on the face of the Earth. Stebo (her nickname) is about 47 years old, not quite sure because she doesn't have a copy of her birth certificate and remembers only her birthday month, not the day or year. She speaks very little English but understands my butchered Sesotho very well. We have learned each other's mannerisms so well, we can tell when one is upset, happy, frustrated, or hungry just by looking at each other. She is one of my mothers here and also my best Basotho friend. She's about 5'4, maybe 170lbs, with a smile extending from ear to ear. She is constantly singing, laughing, or cracking jokes. She has a thing with my name. She finds it so funny my English name has so many parts (4) and my Sesotho name is just as long (Ausi Bophelo Manele Khoarai.) She walks around the Center doing various things just saying my name over and over again, chuckling to herself.
This woman works so hard. She comes to the Center Monday-Friday, usually the first one here in the morning and the last to leave in the evening. She gives whole new meaning to "busy as a bee". She is constantly doing something: sewing, knitting, cleaning the Center, gardening, counseling, taking patients to the clinic, taking care of her home-based patients, etc.! She has even taken in an orphan from her village named Kalebe. He is 9 years old and in Standard 2. They both live in her one room apartment and sleep in the same bed. He receives school fees from the Center and we like to think of him as our mascot. He is HIV+ just like Stebo, on ARVs, and is a shy but energetic young boy. He calls her mom and she thinks of him as her son.
For income, she makes and sells joala, traditional Basotho beer, but never touches it herself. She explained to me once, "Ke batla ho lula cau feela, na ha ke noa joala," she wants to live forever, so she cannot drink joala. She takes care of her personal garden which provides her with fresh vegetables year round. She also takes care of multiple patient's gardens to ensure they too have healthy diets. She has helped construct more than 20 keyhole gardens and taught nutrition and gardening to over 50 people in her village. She goes to church every Sunday (which lasts for 2.5 hours!) and is a Sister of Mary, a catholic support group for women. In addition, she also cleans my house, does my laundry, and eats lunch with me every Monday. I like to cook her American food to see what she likes. So far, anything with beef is a huge hit. (Not a fan of tuna though- bummer.)
She shines with optimism, determination, and everlasting compassion. She is never too busy to counsel someone, stopping whatever she is doing to help someone struggling with HIV, a spouse, rent, school fees, etc. For me, she has been a friend and comfort in the good and bad times. She was told about Teboho (my little guy that died) before I was, and immediately came to me with his aunt, Limpho. She took my hand, led me to the office, sat beside me and put her arms around me. Then nodded to Limpho to tell me the news. She held me while I cried. She was with me the entire way through his hospital stay, funeral, and during the weeks afterward, was always close by. We can't communicate in complex language, like discussions on God, but when it comes to how each other are feeling, we are right on target. She reminds me of the good stuff and I love making her jiggle with laughter. She will reside in my heart for the rest of my life.
I pray for her daily and hope she will live forever, or at least until she feels ready to go. Earlier this year, we had a scare concerning her health. She religiously takes her ARVs, a model patient in the best sense. When she went to the clinic to get her next round of ARVs, the clinic told her they were not in yet. She was surprised, the clinic orders these ARVs every month as they have hundreds of people waiting for these incredibly important pills. She walked back to the Center and never said a word. The next day she didn't show up at the Center and then two days passed without her. Sis J and I went to her house to see what was up. She was laying in bed, her face was swollen to double its normal size and bright red. She could barely open her eyes, her face was so puffy, and she was in obvious pain. She said she had pain in her eyes and it hurt to open them. When we lifted her out of bed to see how weak she was and she wobbled, not able to stand on her own. I took her health book (like a medical passport of sorts), and Sis J and I went to the clinic to get her ARVs. We literally were storming to the clinic, ranting the whole way about the irresponsibility of the clinic.
Upon arrival in the clinic, we entered a sea of humanity. There must have been a hundred people there. We sat for about an hour and I was getting VERY angry with this entire situation. So- I have to admit, I pulled the race card. I walked up to the doctor, explained I was a Peace Corps volunteer and would like to take 5 minutes of his time to see if I could get my very sick friend her ARVs. He smiled and took me and Sis J right into his office. He gave me her ARVs and apologized for "any inconvenience", then got up to escort us to the door. I was so taken aback by how fast the entire process was I got really angry. I asked him why the ARVs weren't here 3 days ago. He said, "We accidentally forgot the order on our last trip to Maseru and so had to drive back the next day to place it. The supplier wasn't able to give us our supply until the next day because he had to fill the regular orders first." He said all of this through a smile I quite frankly wanted to smack off his face. I know this man does an invaluable service to Lesotho and the Basotho, but forgetting his order was plain inexcusable. I asked him if he forsaw that happening again as it might mean my friend dying next time. He looked at me and said, "I certainly hope not." Sis J grabbed my hand at that point and we left. She was fuming as well. He wasn't taking responsibility, and since my skin color is light, we got in and out of there faster than anyone else. "You don't have HIV, why do you get it fast?" It wasn't a comment against me, she was mad at her people and at her country, for not loving themselves enough to take care of each other. She said she was glad I was there to get the pills but it shouldn't be like that. She's right!
We brought the pills to Stebo and in 2 days she was fully recovered, except for general weakness that lasted about a week. If she had gone any longer, she could have died, or built up an immunity to the 1st cycle of ARVs, leaving her with only one other option. (Once you become immune to an ARV cycle, you must start another and there are only 2 therapy tracks available in Lesotho. In the US there are 5.) When she came back to the Center, she told her story to everyone over and over again, and it actually brought people closer together by sharing her experience. The country however, is still faulting on their promise to support their HIV+ population. Just last month, the ENTIRE country was incapable of providing CD4 counts for anyone. Not one of the CD4 machines could work without the catalyst solution supplied by the Lesotho government. The government stopped supplying this catalyst because they placed the order late AND hadn't paid their remaining balance to the South African supplier. Absolutely disgusting!
Anyway- back to Stebo. She is a marvelous, courageous, extraordinary person who I would really love to help. She helps me so much already, I would like to return the love with a specific gift. She has been trying for years to save her meager earnings to buy a house. When she started helping me with the house, she asked me to keep half of every payment, like a mini-bank account. We keep a paper record of it and she can pull out money when she needs. This helps her because banks charge you for every withdrawal transaction. With joala and vegetable sales, combined with my weekly payment, she's never going to make enough for a house. It's just not possible. This is truly one of those situations that one cannot just "pull themselves up by their bootstraps". She is a strong, hard working woman who needs a break. Any takers?
Since she works hard and it's impossible for her to save up enough money, I want to build her a house. I have a friend in the camptown who owns the hardware store and will give me supplies at wholesale price. I have a PCV who is a trained architect and will draught the plans for me. I have PCVs in country willing to come down and build it. I have a chief who works with me often and will give me a fair price on a piece of land. I have a Bishop who will probably supply her with a stove, couch, and gas tank. (She gets pretty everything in my house when I leave: dishes, pictures, bed, mosquito net, etc.) What I don.t have is the funding for the supplies and land.
I am asking for your help. This is not for the Center. This is for one person. I cannot raise this kind money by myself or in Lesotho. According to the chief, the land would be R4,000 (about $600.00). The supplies will probably take about $1,400.00 or so. I can ensure everyone is updated on the progress with pictures, stories, etc. I can make vouchers for people who want to donate to the "Stebo Fund" as a present to someone else for holidays or birthdays. People could buy individual bricks and have their names written on the outside the brick, and each name will be blessed by the Bishop. I can provide anything you may want.
What do you guys think? Could you donate $20 to the Stebo Fund this year? Or if you wanna come out and help build it, feel free- you got a free place to stay! Right now, I think the best way is to send checks to my mother, Grace Malley. Make the checks payable to Zoe Malley, and in the subject line put Stebo Fund. Then she can make copies of these checks before she deposits them, so we can keep track of the funds. If you can think of a better way, let me know. (Unfortunately despositing checks here cost R100 per check (about $14 dollars right now, so we'd lose money if we deposited the checks directly into the bank in Lesotho.) Please email me at stcamilluscenter@gmail.com to get Grace's address.
Thank you all for your support in this endeavour. I only have 6 months left, so it's crunch time. We need to start building NOW!
Zoe Malley, US Peace Corps Volunteer, Lesotho
Expansion Proposal
Goal: Attain funding to continue existing work and expand St. Camillus Center to include an Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Center
Brief Description of Who We Are
It is assumed that over 50% of Lesotho’s entire population is HIV+, however, the accepted figure is 23%, based on the latest UN study (2005). Regardless of exact percentages, HIV/AIDS is ravaging Lesotho. Bishop Sebastian Khoarai and Sr. Juliana Manele created the St. Camillus Center in 2002 in response to this epidemic. The St. Camillus Center is a fully volunteer, grassroots NGO dedicated to home-based care, the support of orphans, and education of HIV/AIDS, proper nutrition, correct agricultural techniques, and income-generating skills. Since it’s inception, the Center has trained and continues to support 120 home-based care volunteers in 39 villages in the District of Mohale’s Hoek. The Center works in close collaboration with the Departments of Health, Social Welfare, and Agriculture, other NGOs/CBOs/FBOs, village chiefs, and volunteer individuals in the area. Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association, CARE Lesotho, the Police Department, the District Administrator, and the district hospital all contribute and support the Center’s activities and projects. Due to all its good work, the Center is a valued and trusted organization within the district.
Initially the Center focused on training village volunteers in home-based care and educating youth about HIV/AIDS. As the number of people and organizations involved grew, St. Camillus evolved into a Center for people affected and infected with HIV/AIDS. This has many facets. The physical Center itself serves as a meeting place for People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and provides a place for them to learn valuable income-generating activities, as well as support one another through their struggles. There is a large demonstration garden on site to educate people about good agricultural techniques and proper nutrition. This garden also provides orphans, patients, caregivers, and support group members with organic vegetables all year round.
Another target group includes in and out-of-school youth. The most at risk population in Lesotho are young females aged 17-24, with an HIV infection rate of 51%. Combined with the fact that within this age group, a healthy girl who turns 18 has a 74% chance of contracting HIV before she turns 45 (UN Study, 2002), it is no wonder the Center has reached out to the youth. All ages of youth are encouraged to come to the Center for food, clothing, school fees, school supplies, and counseling. The Center conducts one-week workshops to teach life skills such as self-confidence, responsibility, children’s rights, and many other topics otherwise not discussed in the Lesotho school system. With an early HIV prevention education and a firm foundation in life skills, many Basotho have avoided the seemingly destined HIV infection. The Center offers self-reliance training, “How-to start a business” and basic economic skills, along with knowledge of craft making to youth and adults.
Most recently, the Center has embraced the care and support of the increasing number of AIDS orphans in Lesotho. An increasing percentage of Sr. Juliana’s time is now spent on the care and support of AIDS orphans. As more people die of the disease, the number of orphans increases while the village capacity to support them diminishes. There is as yet, no systematic registration of orphans, but the UN World Food Programme, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Disaster Management Authority have estimated the number in Lesotho to be over 95,000 (2004). There are a growing number of orphans being exploited or abused in the villages, thus adding even greater urgency to her cause. Sr. Juliana uses small funds raised in various income-generating projects and donations to support these orphans, but the problem has become overwhelming.
As most of our home-care patients are sick with AIDS, and most die, orphans are continually being left behind. We have observed that the children’s process of decline begins before the parent’s death, as the family situation deteriorates due to the parents’ illness. Once the parent(s) die, some orphans are cared for to varying degrees by other family or village members. Decreasing numbers of healthy adults in villages has caused the village-based support system to diminish. Many orphans are left with no family members or neighbors willing to care for them and are often abused and/or exploited. Since the Center is already present in villages through its home-based care volunteers, the Center has a unique advantage toward helping these AIDS orphans. Home-based care volunteers are familiar with village members and are aware of children’s needs during the decline into AIDS and subsequent death. In addition to the care of those suffering from AIDS, the Center has begun to primarily focus on the village-based support network and orphans.
Goals
To establish an expanded St. Camillus Center to include a new Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Center. The OVC Center will be run in conjunction with the St. Camillus Center, but its focus will be explicitly on orphaned and vulnerable children. The OVC Center will make a two-pronged effort supporting both the village-based orphan support network and providing a place for OVCs to come during the day to receive valuable services. The OVC Center will appoint, train, support, and monitor 3 volunteers in each of the villages the Center is already active with home-based care, thus building upon the level of trust already established in the villages. These teams would be responsible for oversight of village’s OVCs and provide links with all child protection and welfare organizations. They will be trained and guided to focus on the children’s rights, as well as their physical and psychological welfare. In addition to the village-based network, the OVC Center (attached to the St. Camillus Center) will provide a place for orphaned and vulnerable children to go during the day and occupy their time or receive after school help. All of these new activities will add to, not replace the existing activities already a part of the Center. A new OVC Center will allow all of the following activities to take place:
- Emotional, spiritual, psychological support and counseling from Sr. Juliana and the other
support group members to caregivers, patients, and orphans
- Free classes in sewing, knitting, crocheting, jewelry making, carpentry, aloe vaseline and lotion, AIDS pins construction, basic economics and business skills, etc.
- Training of how to form village cooperatives, register with the district, group dynamics, and shared business responsibility
- After school place with electricity to get tutoring for homework
- Warm, nutritious meal
- Friendly, inviting atmosphere providing a safe place for people to be and ways to constructively use their time
- “Talk groups” that meet once a week to discuss HIV concerns, issues, questions, and provide emotional support to one another
- Beds for the homeless children, while we search out relatives willing to take them or place them at the local orphanage.
- Beds for the very sick children needing to go to the hospital and are too weak to get there or live to far away
- Playground and garden areas where the children can play or learn depending on their preference
Implementation
- Volunteers are contacted and asked to select 2-3 members in each village to serve as
OVC Support Project volunteers.
- Meetings with Community Counselors and chiefs to describe project and plan pitsos
in each village
- Trainings for volunteers in:
How to recognize child abuse and exploitation
How to provide emotional support to orphans
Children & Gender Protection Unit of the Lesotho Police
Tuition bursaries
Available food programs
Inheritance rights
Child Protection Act of Lesotho
Sexual Offenses Act of Lesotho
Social Welfare Policy on OVCs
Orphanage placements
Counseling children
Teaching and supporting child-headed households
Establishing emergency communications
Working with the chief, community counselors, and community members
Home gardens and good nutrition
Monitoring and evaluation techniques and forms
- Principal Officer monthly visits to each village for the first 6 months (Sr. Juliana
Manele will be on hand to counsel any orphan in need. She will offer God’s love
and an understanding heart.)
- Principal Officer visits every other month to each village for the next 6 months
- After first year, bi-annual meetings for OVC volunteers to discuss and report back to the
Center
- By project completion, the OVC Support Project training topics will become part of
every home-based care training conducted by the Center making the OVC Support Project fully integrated into the Center and it’s volunteers
Expected Results
By project completion, the Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Center will be fully operational and integrated with the existing programs of the St. Camillus Center. The Center will have trained volunteers in each of the 39 villages to ensure the safety and security of OVCs within their homes, as well as freedom from exploitation or abuse by relatives or neighbors. Each volunteer will make sure each orphan is receiving all the benefits and services to which they are entitled. OVCs needing further assistance will be referred to the appropriate authorities by the village volunteers, with volunteers serving as the bridge between the orphan and the organizations/authorities/services. The OVC Center’s ultimate goal is to strengthen the existent village-support network prevalent in the Basotho culture. However, the new OCV Center will provide a place for the out-of-school youth to come during the day, and an after school place for the enrolled students. The OVC Center will be a headquarters of sorts for the village-based volunteers and OVCs, as well as a place of learning and support for the caregivers, patients, and support group members.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Records of all pitsos held: dates, number of attendees, agenda, and results
- Principal Officer monthly visits will be recorded with activities and outcomes of each
village each month
- Principal Officer every other month visits will be recorded with activities and outcomes
of each village each month
- Volunteers will be spot tested during visits and results recorded
- Reports from each village volunteer begin coming in every other month including
record of all OVC under their care, services rendered, assistance provided, etc.
- Bi-annual project reports by Principal Officer (reports will be quantitative as well as
qualitative, including comments solicited from NGOs the Center collaborates with, chiefs, and community counselors
- Annual reports will include bi-annual findings with a year analysis and a description of
project sustainability and overall progress
BUDGET DETAILS
Funding to run St. Camillus and the OVC Project for 3 years
Salaries (Donor: R366, 000; Cost Share R195, 000)………….……..….R366, 000.00
1. Project Manager (PM)
R80, 000/year for 3 years: R240, 000.00
2. Bookkeeper/Administrative Assistant
R42, 000/year for three years, part-time, 3 days per week: R126, 000.00
3. Principal Officer (PO, Sr. Juliana Manele) (in-kind SCC)
Salary at R50, 000 per year R150, 000.00
4. Peace Corps Volunteer (in-kind SCC)
Salary at 15,000 per year R45, 000.00
Travel & Training: Phase 1 (Donor: R18, 000)...…………..………..……R18, 000.00
1. Meeting with Community Counselors and chiefs to describe project and plan pitsos within 20 villages
Public transport estimated at R100 per village for PM, PO: R2, 000.00
2. Pitsos in 20 villages
Public transport estimated at R150 per village for PM, PO, PCV: R3, 000.00
3. Training sessions in initial 20 villages 3-5 volunteers per village
a. Transportation estimated at R150 per village for PM, PO, PCV
(R3, 000.00)
b. Food expenses for lunch and tea for 5 volunteers and SCC staff at R50
(R8, 000.00)
c. Material and supplies estimated at R100:
(R2, 000.00) R13, 000.00
Travel & Training: Phase 2 (Donor: R17, 100).……..………..……..……R17, 100.00
1. Meeting with Community Counselors and chiefs to describe project and plan pitsos within remaining 19 villages
Public transport estimated at R100 per village for PM, PO: R1, 900.00
2. Pitsos in 19 villages
Public transport estimated at R150 per village for PM, PO, PCV: R2, 850.00
3. Training sessions in initial 19 villages 3-5 volunteers per village
a. Transportation estimated at R150 per village for PM, PO, PCV
(R2, 850.00)
b. Food expenses for lunch and tea for 5 volunteers and SCC staff at R50
(R7, 600.00)
c. Material and supplies estimated at R100:
(R1, 900.00) R12, 350.00
Monitoring & Evaluation (Donor: R44, 790 )………..…………..……..….R44, 790.00
1. PM & PO monthly monitoring visits for all 39 villages
a. Monthly visits for 1st 6 months
Transportation estimated at R50 per visit for 6 months R11, 700.00
b. Estimated additional 5 monthly visits as necessary due to problems or issues
R50 per visit for 5 visits: R1, 500.00
2. PM & PO monitoring visits every 2 months for 2 years
a. Transportation estimated at R50 per visit for 2 years R23, 400.00
3. 2 bi-annual meetings of village volunteers for 2 years
a. Transport at R30 x 60 volunteers (3 per village) 20 villages: R7, 200.00
b. Transport at R30 x 57 volunteers (3 per village) 19 villages: R6, 840.00
Supplies (Donor: 20, 300.00 Cost Share/St. Camillus Center: R21, 009.98).….…..R41, 309.98
1. IBM Laptop (SCC) R13, 999.99
2. Printer (SCC) R899.99
3. 8 cartridges (R300 each) R2, 400.00
4. 6 boxes of paper (R150 per box) R900.00
5. 10 Flip Charts (R80 each) R800.00
6. 20 Markers (R10 each) R200.00
7. Training Supplies R1, 000.00
8. Photocopy Machine R13, 000.00
9. Office Supplies R2, 000.00
10. 2 office desks (R1925 each; SCC) R3, 850.00
11. 2 office chairs (R1, 130 each; SCC) R2, 260.00
Other Direct Expenses (Cost Share R44, 100).………………....……..…..R44, 100.00
1. Airtime for cell phone for PM & PO
R300/month per person for 3 years: R21, 600.00
2. Bank Fees: R1, 000/year for 3 years R3, 000.00
3. Electricity: R200/month for 3 years (SCC) R7, 200.00
4. Cleaning: R50 per month for 3 years (SCC) R1, 800.00
5. Housing for Peace Corps Volunteer at R400/month
for 2 years (SCC): R9, 600.00
6. Supplies (soap, toilet paper, etc.) at R25/month for 3 years (SCC) R900.00
TOTAL REQUESTED FROM DONOR: R431, 109.98
TOTAL BUDGETED AMOUNT: R726, 299.98
St. Camillus Center’s Expanded Site To Include an Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Center
In addition to the funding needed to enable the St. Camillus Center to continue it’s mission, a new building is also needed. Bishop Sebastian Khoarai has purchased the land, but blueprints, building costs, and architectural assistance is still needed.
We would like the building to include:
- Large hall for workshops, trainings, annual Orphan and HIV Support Feasts, etc.
- Partition for large hall to provide room for a craft area in one half of the area when an event isn’t happening
- Office and bathroom for Principal Officer (Sr. Juliana), Project Manager, and Peace Corps Volunteer
- Sick room for emergencies for maximum of 5 people with adjoining bathroom
- 2 private bedrooms for overnight accommodation for trainers/presenters involved in workshops or for caregivers living in extremely rural areas
- Kitchen for preparing meals for daily hot lunch and dinner for those at the Center
- 2 rondovaals and bathrooms for Project Manager and the Peace Corps volunteer residences
- 4 latrines to serve large hall
- Store room
- Garage
The “600 Project”
Substantially help 600 orphans in 3 years
As we are a very small Center with a far-reaching network of volunteers, it is impossible to help every orphan in the way we would like to. We wish we could provide every one of our 607 orphans with the following services and/or products, but currently, each orphan receives only one or more of the following from the Center:
School fees High School: R1, 300/year
School fees Grade School: R400/year Standard 1-7 are free from the government yet there are other items necessary to receive the free education (watchmen fees, feast days, lunches, etc.)
Male Uniforms (High School and Grade School): approx. R500/year (Shirts
white & colored R50 & R45, trousers black and colored R120 &R100,
Jersey R120, Tie R30, Socks R20)
Female Uniforms (High School and Grade School): approx. R670 (Shirts
white & colored R50 & R45, Tunic dress R130, Pleated skirt R90, Track
top R185, Jersey, R120, Tie R30, Socks R20)
Shoes & polish: R300 & R20
Pens, notebooks, paper, etc.: R30
Food/Milk: R284 (12.5kg maize meal R80, 5kg beans R130, 1 kg sorghum R17,
6L milk R57)
Seeds: R30 (carrots, spinach, cabbage, beet root)
Clothes: R100 (R35 top, R38 trousers, R15 underwear, R12 socks) Much of the clothing we give has been donated to us, but if we purchase these items, these are the costs.
Soap, vaseline, medicine, toothbrush, etc.: R50
Blankets: R80
Vegetables: R40 Vegetables are given for free from the large garden we have at the Center. If we were to purchase these items, this would be the cost.
Our hope is to assist these orphans in a more substantial way over the next 3 years. We are currently seeking funding to help 20 orphans a month with a complete list of the above items. This would mean in 3 years we could help approximately 600 orphans.
1. Projected cost per male orphan in High School per year: R2, 734
2. Projected cost per female orphan in High School per year: R2, 904
3. Projected cost per male orphan in Grade School per year: R1, 834
4. Projected cost per female orphan in Grade School per year: R2, 004
#1 x 5 per month= R13, 670 x 12= R164, 040
#2 x 5 per month= R14, 520 x 12= R174, 240
#3 x 5 per month= R9, 170 x 12= R110, 040
#4 x 5 per month= R10, 020 x 12= R120, 240
Total requested to assist 240 orphans in one year: R568, 560
Total requested to assist 600 orphans over 3 years: R1, 421, 400 (avg. of R2, 369 per orphan)
Brief Description of Who We Are
It is assumed that over 50% of Lesotho’s entire population is HIV+, however, the accepted figure is 23%, based on the latest UN study (2005). Regardless of exact percentages, HIV/AIDS is ravaging Lesotho. Bishop Sebastian Khoarai and Sr. Juliana Manele created the St. Camillus Center in 2002 in response to this epidemic. The St. Camillus Center is a fully volunteer, grassroots NGO dedicated to home-based care, the support of orphans, and education of HIV/AIDS, proper nutrition, correct agricultural techniques, and income-generating skills. Since it’s inception, the Center has trained and continues to support 120 home-based care volunteers in 39 villages in the District of Mohale’s Hoek. The Center works in close collaboration with the Departments of Health, Social Welfare, and Agriculture, other NGOs/CBOs/FBOs, village chiefs, and volunteer individuals in the area. Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association, CARE Lesotho, the Police Department, the District Administrator, and the district hospital all contribute and support the Center’s activities and projects. Due to all its good work, the Center is a valued and trusted organization within the district.
Initially the Center focused on training village volunteers in home-based care and educating youth about HIV/AIDS. As the number of people and organizations involved grew, St. Camillus evolved into a Center for people affected and infected with HIV/AIDS. This has many facets. The physical Center itself serves as a meeting place for People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and provides a place for them to learn valuable income-generating activities, as well as support one another through their struggles. There is a large demonstration garden on site to educate people about good agricultural techniques and proper nutrition. This garden also provides orphans, patients, caregivers, and support group members with organic vegetables all year round.
Another target group includes in and out-of-school youth. The most at risk population in Lesotho are young females aged 17-24, with an HIV infection rate of 51%. Combined with the fact that within this age group, a healthy girl who turns 18 has a 74% chance of contracting HIV before she turns 45 (UN Study, 2002), it is no wonder the Center has reached out to the youth. All ages of youth are encouraged to come to the Center for food, clothing, school fees, school supplies, and counseling. The Center conducts one-week workshops to teach life skills such as self-confidence, responsibility, children’s rights, and many other topics otherwise not discussed in the Lesotho school system. With an early HIV prevention education and a firm foundation in life skills, many Basotho have avoided the seemingly destined HIV infection. The Center offers self-reliance training, “How-to start a business” and basic economic skills, along with knowledge of craft making to youth and adults.
Most recently, the Center has embraced the care and support of the increasing number of AIDS orphans in Lesotho. An increasing percentage of Sr. Juliana’s time is now spent on the care and support of AIDS orphans. As more people die of the disease, the number of orphans increases while the village capacity to support them diminishes. There is as yet, no systematic registration of orphans, but the UN World Food Programme, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Disaster Management Authority have estimated the number in Lesotho to be over 95,000 (2004). There are a growing number of orphans being exploited or abused in the villages, thus adding even greater urgency to her cause. Sr. Juliana uses small funds raised in various income-generating projects and donations to support these orphans, but the problem has become overwhelming.
As most of our home-care patients are sick with AIDS, and most die, orphans are continually being left behind. We have observed that the children’s process of decline begins before the parent’s death, as the family situation deteriorates due to the parents’ illness. Once the parent(s) die, some orphans are cared for to varying degrees by other family or village members. Decreasing numbers of healthy adults in villages has caused the village-based support system to diminish. Many orphans are left with no family members or neighbors willing to care for them and are often abused and/or exploited. Since the Center is already present in villages through its home-based care volunteers, the Center has a unique advantage toward helping these AIDS orphans. Home-based care volunteers are familiar with village members and are aware of children’s needs during the decline into AIDS and subsequent death. In addition to the care of those suffering from AIDS, the Center has begun to primarily focus on the village-based support network and orphans.
Goals
To establish an expanded St. Camillus Center to include a new Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Center. The OVC Center will be run in conjunction with the St. Camillus Center, but its focus will be explicitly on orphaned and vulnerable children. The OVC Center will make a two-pronged effort supporting both the village-based orphan support network and providing a place for OVCs to come during the day to receive valuable services. The OVC Center will appoint, train, support, and monitor 3 volunteers in each of the villages the Center is already active with home-based care, thus building upon the level of trust already established in the villages. These teams would be responsible for oversight of village’s OVCs and provide links with all child protection and welfare organizations. They will be trained and guided to focus on the children’s rights, as well as their physical and psychological welfare. In addition to the village-based network, the OVC Center (attached to the St. Camillus Center) will provide a place for orphaned and vulnerable children to go during the day and occupy their time or receive after school help. All of these new activities will add to, not replace the existing activities already a part of the Center. A new OVC Center will allow all of the following activities to take place:
- Emotional, spiritual, psychological support and counseling from Sr. Juliana and the other
support group members to caregivers, patients, and orphans
- Free classes in sewing, knitting, crocheting, jewelry making, carpentry, aloe vaseline and lotion, AIDS pins construction, basic economics and business skills, etc.
- Training of how to form village cooperatives, register with the district, group dynamics, and shared business responsibility
- After school place with electricity to get tutoring for homework
- Warm, nutritious meal
- Friendly, inviting atmosphere providing a safe place for people to be and ways to constructively use their time
- “Talk groups” that meet once a week to discuss HIV concerns, issues, questions, and provide emotional support to one another
- Beds for the homeless children, while we search out relatives willing to take them or place them at the local orphanage.
- Beds for the very sick children needing to go to the hospital and are too weak to get there or live to far away
- Playground and garden areas where the children can play or learn depending on their preference
Implementation
- Volunteers are contacted and asked to select 2-3 members in each village to serve as
OVC Support Project volunteers.
- Meetings with Community Counselors and chiefs to describe project and plan pitsos
in each village
- Trainings for volunteers in:
How to recognize child abuse and exploitation
How to provide emotional support to orphans
Children & Gender Protection Unit of the Lesotho Police
Tuition bursaries
Available food programs
Inheritance rights
Child Protection Act of Lesotho
Sexual Offenses Act of Lesotho
Social Welfare Policy on OVCs
Orphanage placements
Counseling children
Teaching and supporting child-headed households
Establishing emergency communications
Working with the chief, community counselors, and community members
Home gardens and good nutrition
Monitoring and evaluation techniques and forms
- Principal Officer monthly visits to each village for the first 6 months (Sr. Juliana
Manele will be on hand to counsel any orphan in need. She will offer God’s love
and an understanding heart.)
- Principal Officer visits every other month to each village for the next 6 months
- After first year, bi-annual meetings for OVC volunteers to discuss and report back to the
Center
- By project completion, the OVC Support Project training topics will become part of
every home-based care training conducted by the Center making the OVC Support Project fully integrated into the Center and it’s volunteers
Expected Results
By project completion, the Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Center will be fully operational and integrated with the existing programs of the St. Camillus Center. The Center will have trained volunteers in each of the 39 villages to ensure the safety and security of OVCs within their homes, as well as freedom from exploitation or abuse by relatives or neighbors. Each volunteer will make sure each orphan is receiving all the benefits and services to which they are entitled. OVCs needing further assistance will be referred to the appropriate authorities by the village volunteers, with volunteers serving as the bridge between the orphan and the organizations/authorities/services. The OVC Center’s ultimate goal is to strengthen the existent village-support network prevalent in the Basotho culture. However, the new OCV Center will provide a place for the out-of-school youth to come during the day, and an after school place for the enrolled students. The OVC Center will be a headquarters of sorts for the village-based volunteers and OVCs, as well as a place of learning and support for the caregivers, patients, and support group members.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Records of all pitsos held: dates, number of attendees, agenda, and results
- Principal Officer monthly visits will be recorded with activities and outcomes of each
village each month
- Principal Officer every other month visits will be recorded with activities and outcomes
of each village each month
- Volunteers will be spot tested during visits and results recorded
- Reports from each village volunteer begin coming in every other month including
record of all OVC under their care, services rendered, assistance provided, etc.
- Bi-annual project reports by Principal Officer (reports will be quantitative as well as
qualitative, including comments solicited from NGOs the Center collaborates with, chiefs, and community counselors
- Annual reports will include bi-annual findings with a year analysis and a description of
project sustainability and overall progress
BUDGET DETAILS
Funding to run St. Camillus and the OVC Project for 3 years
Salaries (Donor: R366, 000; Cost Share R195, 000)………….……..….R366, 000.00
1. Project Manager (PM)
R80, 000/year for 3 years: R240, 000.00
2. Bookkeeper/Administrative Assistant
R42, 000/year for three years, part-time, 3 days per week: R126, 000.00
3. Principal Officer (PO, Sr. Juliana Manele) (in-kind SCC)
Salary at R50, 000 per year R150, 000.00
4. Peace Corps Volunteer (in-kind SCC)
Salary at 15,000 per year R45, 000.00
Travel & Training: Phase 1 (Donor: R18, 000)...…………..………..……R18, 000.00
1. Meeting with Community Counselors and chiefs to describe project and plan pitsos within 20 villages
Public transport estimated at R100 per village for PM, PO: R2, 000.00
2. Pitsos in 20 villages
Public transport estimated at R150 per village for PM, PO, PCV: R3, 000.00
3. Training sessions in initial 20 villages 3-5 volunteers per village
a. Transportation estimated at R150 per village for PM, PO, PCV
(R3, 000.00)
b. Food expenses for lunch and tea for 5 volunteers and SCC staff at R50
(R8, 000.00)
c. Material and supplies estimated at R100:
(R2, 000.00) R13, 000.00
Travel & Training: Phase 2 (Donor: R17, 100).……..………..……..……R17, 100.00
1. Meeting with Community Counselors and chiefs to describe project and plan pitsos within remaining 19 villages
Public transport estimated at R100 per village for PM, PO: R1, 900.00
2. Pitsos in 19 villages
Public transport estimated at R150 per village for PM, PO, PCV: R2, 850.00
3. Training sessions in initial 19 villages 3-5 volunteers per village
a. Transportation estimated at R150 per village for PM, PO, PCV
(R2, 850.00)
b. Food expenses for lunch and tea for 5 volunteers and SCC staff at R50
(R7, 600.00)
c. Material and supplies estimated at R100:
(R1, 900.00) R12, 350.00
Monitoring & Evaluation (Donor: R44, 790 )………..…………..……..….R44, 790.00
1. PM & PO monthly monitoring visits for all 39 villages
a. Monthly visits for 1st 6 months
Transportation estimated at R50 per visit for 6 months R11, 700.00
b. Estimated additional 5 monthly visits as necessary due to problems or issues
R50 per visit for 5 visits: R1, 500.00
2. PM & PO monitoring visits every 2 months for 2 years
a. Transportation estimated at R50 per visit for 2 years R23, 400.00
3. 2 bi-annual meetings of village volunteers for 2 years
a. Transport at R30 x 60 volunteers (3 per village) 20 villages: R7, 200.00
b. Transport at R30 x 57 volunteers (3 per village) 19 villages: R6, 840.00
Supplies (Donor: 20, 300.00 Cost Share/St. Camillus Center: R21, 009.98).….…..R41, 309.98
1. IBM Laptop (SCC) R13, 999.99
2. Printer (SCC) R899.99
3. 8 cartridges (R300 each) R2, 400.00
4. 6 boxes of paper (R150 per box) R900.00
5. 10 Flip Charts (R80 each) R800.00
6. 20 Markers (R10 each) R200.00
7. Training Supplies R1, 000.00
8. Photocopy Machine R13, 000.00
9. Office Supplies R2, 000.00
10. 2 office desks (R1925 each; SCC) R3, 850.00
11. 2 office chairs (R1, 130 each; SCC) R2, 260.00
Other Direct Expenses (Cost Share R44, 100).………………....……..…..R44, 100.00
1. Airtime for cell phone for PM & PO
R300/month per person for 3 years: R21, 600.00
2. Bank Fees: R1, 000/year for 3 years R3, 000.00
3. Electricity: R200/month for 3 years (SCC) R7, 200.00
4. Cleaning: R50 per month for 3 years (SCC) R1, 800.00
5. Housing for Peace Corps Volunteer at R400/month
for 2 years (SCC): R9, 600.00
6. Supplies (soap, toilet paper, etc.) at R25/month for 3 years (SCC) R900.00
TOTAL REQUESTED FROM DONOR: R431, 109.98
TOTAL BUDGETED AMOUNT: R726, 299.98
St. Camillus Center’s Expanded Site To Include an Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Center
In addition to the funding needed to enable the St. Camillus Center to continue it’s mission, a new building is also needed. Bishop Sebastian Khoarai has purchased the land, but blueprints, building costs, and architectural assistance is still needed.
We would like the building to include:
- Large hall for workshops, trainings, annual Orphan and HIV Support Feasts, etc.
- Partition for large hall to provide room for a craft area in one half of the area when an event isn’t happening
- Office and bathroom for Principal Officer (Sr. Juliana), Project Manager, and Peace Corps Volunteer
- Sick room for emergencies for maximum of 5 people with adjoining bathroom
- 2 private bedrooms for overnight accommodation for trainers/presenters involved in workshops or for caregivers living in extremely rural areas
- Kitchen for preparing meals for daily hot lunch and dinner for those at the Center
- 2 rondovaals and bathrooms for Project Manager and the Peace Corps volunteer residences
- 4 latrines to serve large hall
- Store room
- Garage
The “600 Project”
Substantially help 600 orphans in 3 years
As we are a very small Center with a far-reaching network of volunteers, it is impossible to help every orphan in the way we would like to. We wish we could provide every one of our 607 orphans with the following services and/or products, but currently, each orphan receives only one or more of the following from the Center:
School fees High School: R1, 300/year
School fees Grade School: R400/year Standard 1-7 are free from the government yet there are other items necessary to receive the free education (watchmen fees, feast days, lunches, etc.)
Male Uniforms (High School and Grade School): approx. R500/year (Shirts
white & colored R50 & R45, trousers black and colored R120 &R100,
Jersey R120, Tie R30, Socks R20)
Female Uniforms (High School and Grade School): approx. R670 (Shirts
white & colored R50 & R45, Tunic dress R130, Pleated skirt R90, Track
top R185, Jersey, R120, Tie R30, Socks R20)
Shoes & polish: R300 & R20
Pens, notebooks, paper, etc.: R30
Food/Milk: R284 (12.5kg maize meal R80, 5kg beans R130, 1 kg sorghum R17,
6L milk R57)
Seeds: R30 (carrots, spinach, cabbage, beet root)
Clothes: R100 (R35 top, R38 trousers, R15 underwear, R12 socks) Much of the clothing we give has been donated to us, but if we purchase these items, these are the costs.
Soap, vaseline, medicine, toothbrush, etc.: R50
Blankets: R80
Vegetables: R40 Vegetables are given for free from the large garden we have at the Center. If we were to purchase these items, this would be the cost.
Our hope is to assist these orphans in a more substantial way over the next 3 years. We are currently seeking funding to help 20 orphans a month with a complete list of the above items. This would mean in 3 years we could help approximately 600 orphans.
1. Projected cost per male orphan in High School per year: R2, 734
2. Projected cost per female orphan in High School per year: R2, 904
3. Projected cost per male orphan in Grade School per year: R1, 834
4. Projected cost per female orphan in Grade School per year: R2, 004
#1 x 5 per month= R13, 670 x 12= R164, 040
#2 x 5 per month= R14, 520 x 12= R174, 240
#3 x 5 per month= R9, 170 x 12= R110, 040
#4 x 5 per month= R10, 020 x 12= R120, 240
Total requested to assist 240 orphans in one year: R568, 560
Total requested to assist 600 orphans over 3 years: R1, 421, 400 (avg. of R2, 369 per orphan)
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Introduction to the Center
It is assumed that over 50% of Lesotho’s entire population is HIV-positive. The accepted figure is estimated at 32%, based on a study of HIV-positive women who had given birth at Lesotho hospitals. However, the majority of births in Lesotho are not hospital-based, and the study did not include the percentage of infected children born at Lesotho hospitals by the HIV-positive mothers in the study. A study of Lesotho’s young female population, aged 17-24, produced an HIV-positive infection rate of 51%. Within this age group, according to a United Nations survey, a healthy girl who turned 18 had a 74% chance of contracting the virus before she turns 45.
Sexual activity is but one source of HIV/AIDS infection; Basotho people are widowed, orphaned, and entire families are decimated by HIV/AIDS due to a lack of HIV-prevention education and AIDS care-giving training and supplies. The hospital system in Lesotho is unable to adequately address the large volume of AIDS cases. Hospital care is not an option for most patients; in addition to the prohibitive travel logistics and hospital expense, being cared for at home is the cultural norm. Regardless of the source of infection, the stigma and discrimination of HIV/AIDS is felt throughout the country. It is St. Camillus Center’s mission to help these people infected and affected by the AIDS epidemic.
The Center takes a multi-faceted approach to dealing with HIV/AIDS. Everyone associated with the Center is a member of the St. Camillus Support Group, from home-based caregivers, orphans, and patients, to those volunteers who make the Center possible. The Center assists over 39 villages within the Mohale’s Hoek district with one or more of the following:
· Training and support of home-based caregivers
· Formation of satellite support groups in each of the 39 villages
· Medical supplies for the home-based care kits
· Cultivation of a large scale garden for orphans, patients, and surplus profit
· Education of good nutrition and sound agricultural techniques
· Workshops in self reliance and crafts
· Counseling for those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS
· Clothing and food for orphans
· Education on the human rights of orphans and people living with HIV/AIDS
· In-school and out-of-school youth workshops educating on HIV/AIDS prevention and care, life skills, and self-reliance skills.
· A central location for people to come and seek education or counseling
Through cooperation and support from the following people and groups, the Center is succeeding in its mission against HIV/AIDS:
· Sisters of the Congregation of the Holy Cross
· Irish Aid
· His Lordship Bishop Sebastian Khoarai OMI
· Christian Council of Lesotho
· District Secretary of Mohale’s Hoek
· National AIDS Commission
· Lesotho Planned Parenthood
· Private Doctors Manamolela & Monyamane
· United States Peace Corps Volunteers: Weej Mudge, Zoe Malley, and Maria Steele
· Chiefs in villages and Local Government Community Counselors
Together we can overcome this problem facing our country. Remember, “The lover of his neighbor is the lover of his nation”. If you would like to help, please refer to the appendix of this album for how you can assist the Center achieve its mission.
God Bless you!
Sexual activity is but one source of HIV/AIDS infection; Basotho people are widowed, orphaned, and entire families are decimated by HIV/AIDS due to a lack of HIV-prevention education and AIDS care-giving training and supplies. The hospital system in Lesotho is unable to adequately address the large volume of AIDS cases. Hospital care is not an option for most patients; in addition to the prohibitive travel logistics and hospital expense, being cared for at home is the cultural norm. Regardless of the source of infection, the stigma and discrimination of HIV/AIDS is felt throughout the country. It is St. Camillus Center’s mission to help these people infected and affected by the AIDS epidemic.
The Center takes a multi-faceted approach to dealing with HIV/AIDS. Everyone associated with the Center is a member of the St. Camillus Support Group, from home-based caregivers, orphans, and patients, to those volunteers who make the Center possible. The Center assists over 39 villages within the Mohale’s Hoek district with one or more of the following:
· Training and support of home-based caregivers
· Formation of satellite support groups in each of the 39 villages
· Medical supplies for the home-based care kits
· Cultivation of a large scale garden for orphans, patients, and surplus profit
· Education of good nutrition and sound agricultural techniques
· Workshops in self reliance and crafts
· Counseling for those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS
· Clothing and food for orphans
· Education on the human rights of orphans and people living with HIV/AIDS
· In-school and out-of-school youth workshops educating on HIV/AIDS prevention and care, life skills, and self-reliance skills.
· A central location for people to come and seek education or counseling
Through cooperation and support from the following people and groups, the Center is succeeding in its mission against HIV/AIDS:
· Sisters of the Congregation of the Holy Cross
· Irish Aid
· His Lordship Bishop Sebastian Khoarai OMI
· Christian Council of Lesotho
· District Secretary of Mohale’s Hoek
· National AIDS Commission
· Lesotho Planned Parenthood
· Private Doctors Manamolela & Monyamane
· United States Peace Corps Volunteers: Weej Mudge, Zoe Malley, and Maria Steele
· Chiefs in villages and Local Government Community Counselors
Together we can overcome this problem facing our country. Remember, “The lover of his neighbor is the lover of his nation”. If you would like to help, please refer to the appendix of this album for how you can assist the Center achieve its mission.
God Bless you!
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