World Vision Singapore

Up close and personal with Lesotho
By Stella Soh, World Vision Singapore staff

The Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave - entirely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. For six days in April 2010, a group of nine child sponsors were totally captivated and immersed in the beauty of Lesotho’s nature and people. Besides meeting their sponsored children and families, they had also come to appreciate the challenges of World Vision’s development work in this land even more, where some 40% of the population still lives below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.

Three of our child sponsors and Singapore staff penned their thoughts below.

Journey to ADP

The long rides to and from the project area via muddy and rocky roads represented one of the daily challenges faced by the community - inaccessibility of the town and services. One can only imagine how much worse it is for the children and villagers who have to travel this way by foot each day.

Meeting Molahlei and Lerato

I will never forget the look on their faces upon receiving even the simplest of gifts. It was then that I understood what it feels to put a smile on a child’s face—and it is probably one of the best feelings in the world.

Child Sponsor, Evangeline Lin

Water gives life - we too can help a child to live life to the fullest

During this trip, I am immensely grateful and inspired by:

The joy and gratitude the community has for the little help that we could give
The World Vision staff for believing in the change they wish to see and the passion they embrace in what they are doing
The amount of love that is poured out in joy among the staff and the community
The courage and willingness to give, knowing that the little that is given can make a big difference in someone else’s life

Child Sponsor, Nigel Chew

Iris and her sponsored child

I believe we were all blessed by the happiness shown on the faces of the children, brought about by our social interaction and gifts. It confirms the need for each of us, whoever we may be, to get out of our own little world and be involved in something greater than ourselves so that we may share God's love with others.

Child sponsor, Iris

Undying Passion

Change has been taking place in a village school – Thaba Phats’oa Primary School in Lenkoane community, Lesotho – for the past seven years. The school principal, Alice is that trailblazer who believes that education is one of the keys to success. Her passion and desire is to see every student complete their Primary school education.

Her labour of love has not been in vain. For the past years, Thaba Phats’oa Primary School has attained a record of having the most number of students completing their Primary School Leaving Examinations. The school’s target for this year is to have 100% quality passing rate!

Transformation takes time. Till this day, Alice continues to educate parents on the importance of education and encourages her team of teachers to be drivers of change.

School principal, Alice who has touched the hearts of many in the community and the team of Singapore child sponsors.