Lesotho

Real lives

A crisis in Lesotho: children without families

The children at Katlehong primary school in their green uniforms look like other rural kids in southern Africa, but these children are different – the boys and girls here have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS. 

They are not alone. Of the 2.2 million children in Lesotho, 93,000 have lost one or both parents to the disease. At Katlehong, there are 140 children who have lost one parent, and 29 other students whom have lost both parents.

Number of orphans grows

Thaba Tseka is one of the worst hit districts in Lesotho, and word is out that orphans are cared for in this school.

Last year there were just 88 children without parents at Katlehong, but a band of dedicated and driven teachers are responsible for bringing more and more children into the school, which has become a model for other schools. 

Julia Likhama is one of those teachers and she says that each year she sees more and more orphans coming to the school.

“We never saw this thing before, just in the past couple of years,” says Ms. Likhama.“But now free education is bringing more and more orphans back to school.” The school offers food to the children and this may also be a draw to those who are hungry. “The children also get porridge in the morning and pap (maize meal) and vegetables, sometimes meat at lunch,” she adds.

Ms. Likhama has been teaching at Katlehong since 1986 and knows the intimate details of many of these children’s lives, but Matshidiso, a sixteen-year-old girl, concerns her in particular.

“Ever since her mother passed away, she has been sad,” she says. “She was a bright, clever girl, one of the top students but now…nothing. Her marks are not good. She’s just sad. This has disturbed her mentally.”

Matshidiso now lives with an elder brother, and works cleaning other people’s homes to bring in money.

“That is why she comes to school late every morning,” Julia explains.

The ABC’s of fighting HIV/AIDS

Lesotho has an HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 31 per cent - one of the highest in the world. However, the Lesotho government has received much praise for its courage in the battle against HIV/AIDS. Four years ago King Letsie III declared HIV/AIDS a national disaster in the country, and ministers openly speak out and advocate the ABC (abstinence, be faithful, use condoms) plan.

Some 3 million children in six countries in the region - Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe - have lost one or both parents to the AIDS epidemic; most are cared for by elderly relatives, and many of the children are now heading households.

A massive effort has been undertaken by the United Nations (UN) agencies to stem the humanitarian crisis caused by the triple threat of drought, HIV/AIDS and weakened government capacity.

A generation standing alone

According to UNICEF, a generation of children is being orphaned due to AIDS in southern Africa. UNICEF has appealed for $34 million under the UN appeal, but has only received 20 per cent of the funds to date.                                  
                                                                            
The free primary education that has been rolled out year by year since 2000 is starting to revolutionize Lesotho’s youth.

At Katlehong, children are taught life skills and given HIV/AIDS education with UNICEF’s support, which is that is also assisting with curriculum development. The children are also given two meals a day through the World Food Programme’s school feeding scheme.

The girls at the school seem to have been especially well-informed about HIV/AIDS, in part due to the fact that there are more girls in school and due to the Girls' Education Movement (GEM), a grassroots effort that emphasizes gender equality to empower girls that is promoted by UNICEF and its partners.

The Katlehong teachers are full of ideas and enthusiasm: setting up model vegetable gardens to teach the orphaned children and others about nutrition and fending for themselves; using plays to educate the community about HIV/AIDS; giving the children without parents food packages for the holidays; selling second-hand clothing and opening a bank accounts for the children. 

If the efforts of  these teachers and the international community succeed in Thaba Tseka, many more children without families will find shelter, food and love -- in addition to education -- inside the classroom.

Related links

UNICEF is working in Lesotho

Learn more about the humanitarian crisis in South Africa

The crisis in Lesotho continues

Combating HIV/AIDS is a UNICEF priority

UNICEF focuses on girls’ education