Help Educate 40 Bright Girls in Lesotho

As I sat down to write, it struck me that it is appropriate that Educare Fund’s first report for 2024 is coming your way during March, an important month for the empowerment of women and celebrating their impact on societies around the world. Several countries choose this month to celebrate the impact women have made in communities around the world through the ages. National Women’s Month, Women’s History Month, and International Women’s Day are all celebrated in March. All these remind us that, while a lot of progress has been made regarding gender equality, there is still work to be done before women achieve true parity. As we approach the end of this important month, I hope you all celebrated your part in empowering women in communities around the world. We, at Educare Fund, continue to applaud your support in our joint work to ensure that the young women in Lesotho can complete their high school education as a step toward a better future for themselves and their communities. You already know from previous reports that a good number of the girls have not only finished high school but have attained university education and beyond. Many of them now have good jobs and can support their families and communities. These achievements are largely due to your generous donations over the years.

Last year, 27 of our students wrote their final high school exams. Although the majority obtained enough grades to qualify for entry to tertiary education, a number need to improve their Mathematics and English Language grades. These two subjects are essential for entry into some courses in tertiary education, so we agreed to fund the resits for them. Educare Fund has been fortunate to obtain the assistance of an experienced retired Maths teacher who is volunteering her time and skills to provide materials to support Maths teachers in the schools where we sponsor students. The resources are intended for whole classes of students to use (not just those sponsored), with guidance from the Maths teachers. The offer of support has been well received, but we are anticipating that schools might need help to meet the extra cost of making these resources available to their students.

While I’m here, I’d like to give you a heads up about the coming GlobalGiving Little by Little Campaign which will run for 5 days from the 8^th to the 12^th of April 2024. There will be a 50% match on all donations up to $50 all through the week. We hope you can join us in this campaign to take advantage of the leverage.

I’d like to finish by again thanking you for your continuing support. We are fortunate that you are with us on this journey of empowering young women in Lesotho to change their lives through education.

Gratefully,

Liphethiso Monica

I am now nearing the end of my 2023 visit to Lesotho. This visit has allowed me to see again the beautiful mountain scenery of the country – and given me the chance to go to a few schools to meet the girls we sponsor. These visits are truly inspiring and help me and the Educare Fund team to re-focus on the reason your help remains so important. The girls also get an opportunity to tell their stories and revisit their hopes and aspirations for a bright future.

 I also had a meeting with our dream team of volunteers here in Lesotho: our local coordinator Puseletso and her assistant Tlalane. They were both Educare Fund beneficiaries and are now volunteering with the charity. Among the issues we discussed, I asked them what motivates them in their volunteer role. Here’s what Puseletso has to say:

Volunteering with Educare Fund has given me the opportunity to play a role in helping to change other people’s lives by supporting the education of young Lesotho women still in high school. I am also gaining new leadership skills and increased self-confidence.

And this from Tlalane, who is now a chartered accountant:

I volunteer with Educare Fund because it gives me the chance to show my appreciation for the organisation that helped me to achieve my dreams. I also wanted to contribute to other people achieving theirs. I believe that even helping with the smallest tasks can make a real difference. The benefits of my volunteering now are just as important to me as the generosity that supported me through high school.

The direct feedback from the girls who attended the workshop that was held for them back in July here in Lesotho was really positive. They reported that they felt it was a very useful event in many ways, including the fact that they were able to meet each other. We at Educare Fund have agreed that our future budget should now include this event on an annual basis.

As always we acknowledge that none of the work we do would be possible without your amazing generosity. #GivingTuesday starts on November 28^th and is immediately followed by the year-end campaign. We are confident that you will not only give us your full support but that you will spread the word in your networks and share the campaign information you receive.

I would like to thank you again for all you do to help our girls achieve their dreams. Without your kind help, it wouldn’t happen.

Gratefully,

Liphethiso Monica