Lesotho: Information on Lesotho including schools in Lesotho, Lesotho HIV and photos of Lesotho, one of the poorest countries in the world where children face enormous challenges just to survive. For all the latest news from Lesotho click here for our news service.
Lesotho, meaning "the land of the people who speak Sesotho" is a small enclave kingdom within the borders of South Africa with a population of just over two million people. Formerly known as Basutoland, it gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 and became the Kingdom of Lesotho. Whilst life is already difficult in the mountainous kingdom with only 10% of
its land being cultivable, a recent United Nations report concluded that climate
change could shrink this even further to just 3% within twenty five years.
Like many other countries in Africa, Lesotho has suffered from internal
politicking which has left an already disadvantaged country even weaker, where a
third of the population has AIDS, alongside high unemployment, near economic
collapse and a week currency. 30% of all children in Lesotho are orphans with
live expectancy not even 40 years.
These child have very poor life opportunities. Most have to walk two hours to
school and the same back, often arriving at school unable to concentrate due to
malnourishment. On their return from school many are required to look
after sick parents in addition to other chores such as collecting sticks for
firewood and replenishing water supplies.
As these children grow up, doctors, teachers and other workers are dying
around them in great number from AIDS with no similarly 'skilled' workforce to
replace them. It is as though the kingdom is facing extinction. Matters were
compounded with the global economic crisis of 2009 which affected employment
opportunities as many Lesotho adults worked in South African mines, but this
employment dried up and has not yet recovered. There are many charities working with children in Lesotho. Below are a couple you may wish to contact:
