Help Educate 40 Bright Girls in Lesotho

It gives me great pleasure, once again, to have this opportunity to update you on how Educare Fund is continuing to support young women in Lesotho to finish high school and where possible go on to higher education.

On my last visit to Lesotho in April this year I was fortunate enough to get a chance to visit a couple of schools that were within a reasonable distance from Maseru where I was based. Every time I talk to the teachers and the students we support, I am amazed by the extent to which all those I spoke to reaffirm the importance of the support.  From the school principal's vantage point, it would appear that the impact of the award for one student extends beyond the individual in that the school as a whole benefits. The students are happy to get the support as it guarantees them a place at the school and ensures that they no longer have to worry about the dreaded periods of being laid off school for non-payment of fees. The teachers confirm that the girls who get support definitely do better because they are able to relax and get on with their studies rather than continually think about the possibility of being laid off school.

This year, for the first time in the life of Educare Fund your very kind support has enabled us to give extra funds to help with book purchase for 8 girls and book hire for a further 8. Lack of funding for books was identified as yet another problem for the young women in their endeavours to complete high school. With more of your help, Educare Fund will continue to extend this support to more girls.

During my visit to Lesotho I was introduced to another young woman who finished high school with the help of Educare Fund. Below is an extract of my email conversation with Mpho:

1. What sort of life would you have had if you hadn't had educational
   support from Educare? 

>>I could have struggled to pay my fees obviously, and you know that time of the quarter when all those who have not paid are sent home, to get the fees, then at the end of the day, end up having lost sometime, which could have been used for reading and attending classes. Luckily for me with the help of Educare, I never experienced that.

2. What is your current job and position? 

>> I am currently working as Financial Systems Specialist, in the ICT department. What I basically do is to work as the first line of support to users on all financial applications that our Company has.

3. How many people in your extended family stand to benefit from your
success i.e. how many are likely to look for support from you? 

>> I am from a family with just two children, that's me and my younger brother. We have been raised by our grandmother with the help of our uncles. so currently, my grandmother and my brother, do get support from me. then my two children.

4. Do you think Educare Fund should do more (or less) to support young
women in Education?

>>I think they should do more, because it’s through their financial support that me and others managed to make something out of our lives.

5. Any other information you want to share??  

>>I finished my first degree in 2007, then got married in 2008, I have two lovely boys... Completed my honors degree in Technology Management 2011. Still considering to do my masters...

One other young woman who finished high school thanks to support by Educare Fund is also on the verge of starting a part-time post graduate degree, with a university in South Africa. 

 I hope this report illustrates the fact that your money is achieving a huge amount and is definitely changing lives for the young women in Lesotho. Please continue the good work of supporting these young people so they in their turn can change the lives of those they become responsible for.

 Educare Fund continues to appreciate your kind support.