tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13650088013046134532024-03-19T00:17:00.774-07:00Touching Tiny Lives in LesothoBridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178316194127151259noreply@blogger.comBlogger275125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-68323078960871992972015-04-27T06:36:00.002-07:002015-04-27T06:36:28.008-07:00Community Caregivers on Campus<b><br /></b>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RiVGL4wbzMXnSEa0HF1p2PfDfiCwUGRj6UIkIuk5yyIn7HPESZezfaZnK8_h2EkP12PvcF8cyw2XUJjIbkHs57iSRbkpft7jdIZ0B8f8WRAy0B752oUsjXZ4Qmgk9pD7sYwuL1BCEAXW/s1600/DSC_1297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RiVGL4wbzMXnSEa0HF1p2PfDfiCwUGRj6UIkIuk5yyIn7HPESZezfaZnK8_h2EkP12PvcF8cyw2XUJjIbkHs57iSRbkpft7jdIZ0B8f8WRAy0B752oUsjXZ4Qmgk9pD7sYwuL1BCEAXW/s1600/DSC_1297.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a><b></b><br />
<b><b><br /></b></b>
<b><div>
<b><br /></b></div>
A huge thank you to Sentebale is in order (again!). In January 2015, TTL's Safe Home program highlighted one of its biggest weaknesses: separation & attachment. Whilst we do everything in our power to save our clients from severe malnutrition, we fail to encourage the caregivers to visit their children whilst they are in the Safe Home</b><b>.</b><div>
<b><br /></b><div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIAZqqrNpvt73G-Jaq3IhwPPKm5rg1N6XlTqaYwcdA_dbnu-6vpKnZznSkDGsHoFz8i8bXrtAWb9e5UD4OA-Tchvdwp4dASkq_Q7lbaFMT27r5Af_VRWizFwF2LBK2sLx-X9vl22xTOQm/s1600/DSC_1307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIAZqqrNpvt73G-Jaq3IhwPPKm5rg1N6XlTqaYwcdA_dbnu-6vpKnZznSkDGsHoFz8i8bXrtAWb9e5UD4OA-Tchvdwp4dASkq_Q7lbaFMT27r5Af_VRWizFwF2LBK2sLx-X9vl22xTOQm/s1600/DSC_1307.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Research has demonstrated that meeting the psychosocial needs of children is a critical element of early childhood development (ECD), and is especially critical for the health and development of children living with HIV or the effects of HIV. Psychosocial support of children also includes the attachment needs of the child, by promoting healthy interactions and bonding with their caregivers, and limiting the amount of time spent away from the caregiver during the child’s most formative years. Given the country’s current HIV epidemic, high levels of poverty, and challenging and isolated terrain, many families find it difficult to have regular contact with their children during their Safe Home rehabilitation. In order for psychosocial support of children to be sustainable, it must be carried out by a child’s primary stable caregiver.</span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> An essential element of this is the empowerment of a child’s primary caregiver through training and supervision in order to develop expertise and confidence in supporting their child in a psychosocial as well as physical manner.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4dxuegZU7sW12LBi1x876UPqFMgM1q44aerw1fQOrIhZ9aWK66mRTF1FSKk40dx4zkSdROU4bQHOpx4-MhAEqOBrUJpud1ILc2nDM9ObByrt-h_DrkWAznM2jek0MCllNBKdWu1qKi9U/s1600/DSC_1299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4dxuegZU7sW12LBi1x876UPqFMgM1q44aerw1fQOrIhZ9aWK66mRTF1FSKk40dx4zkSdROU4bQHOpx4-MhAEqOBrUJpud1ILc2nDM9ObByrt-h_DrkWAznM2jek0MCllNBKdWu1qKi9U/s1600/DSC_1299.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6V4F7qAmyJXpvW95gkA0l6Hku7FuVPT1RsjqzLorcOcH-sBwaCrPsSstJIHflJuRgDspil8EMcRDOO0JRHP4q_X4IcmTZvHQRbsdGjZK-oDfcWBgBunOb_OlQ8qSEEN0O32QIWV46g-DL/s1600/DSC_1318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6V4F7qAmyJXpvW95gkA0l6Hku7FuVPT1RsjqzLorcOcH-sBwaCrPsSstJIHflJuRgDspil8EMcRDOO0JRHP4q_X4IcmTZvHQRbsdGjZK-oDfcWBgBunOb_OlQ8qSEEN0O32QIWV46g-DL/s1600/DSC_1318.JPG" height="214" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US">The project will
be focused on involving children’s community caregivers in the Safe Home
rehabilitation process by providing transportation and accommodation in
Mokhotlong Camp Town for a 1-week period leading up to a child’s Safe Home
graduation, along with monthly visits. During the time caregivers are present
on the TTL campus, they will receive nutritional and ECD training support from
the TTL Safe Home supervisor and staff. This will allow them to practice what
they have learned in a supportive environment. Working off international
rehabilitation programs with demonstrated success, TTL aims to foster the
attachment between child and caregiver, and bolster the long-term
sustainability of our services through caregiver training and empowerment. We are currently waiting on the funds to implement this project, with a possible start date sometime in January 2016. </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">However, in order to address these issues as soon as possible, Sentebale </span>provided us with funds to implement a cluster workshop to trial presentations and trainings before the pilot program begins. 16 community caregivers joined us for a three-day training session which featured presentations on nutrition, early childhood development, meal preparation, child protection, management of childhood illnesses, staging HIV, HIV medication and client compliance of TTL services. It was a huge success with all women partaking reporting that they learned a lot and look forward to the implementation of the pilot scheme.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Hdoughty3http://www.blogger.com/profile/07917390407648869900noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-66853537841342669092015-04-13T01:03:00.000-07:002015-04-17T02:57:28.787-07:00Difficult Case to Crack<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPr-R2ZaYVRfM2omY5yWXpoW1Dh7eu45pmdxwYnlu8Ww7XpZqWYrUy_pKvUM75APJjPlzvm89CKIPdt8JOtCUvp7ySkcSs4yxPjjktJUsLkC2D8CLzhOzkf0vBg7pBCFEoYq-6IWZEYp_/s1600/DSC_1269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPr-R2ZaYVRfM2omY5yWXpoW1Dh7eu45pmdxwYnlu8Ww7XpZqWYrUy_pKvUM75APJjPlzvm89CKIPdt8JOtCUvp7ySkcSs4yxPjjktJUsLkC2D8CLzhOzkf0vBg7pBCFEoYq-6IWZEYp_/s1600/DSC_1269.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RMN4P-0ifLte7I8PQBXBOJkJ6D2O_IzgLcCzQ_LOFtgM1ZqACeEBFq6oONUypq3M5zBWxtXATjbmsXWe_-cJyFLzTNLnNpiZ_XDa8WfKqp7LBKsYcSWt-V8xOWIixIaujfs6HvlzB7f6/s1600/DSC_1265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RMN4P-0ifLte7I8PQBXBOJkJ6D2O_IzgLcCzQ_LOFtgM1ZqACeEBFq6oONUypq3M5zBWxtXATjbmsXWe_-cJyFLzTNLnNpiZ_XDa8WfKqp7LBKsYcSWt-V8xOWIixIaujfs6HvlzB7f6/s1600/DSC_1265.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
This poor little girl has had an incredibly difficult start to life. TTL has been with her from day 10, but 1.5 years on we are still struggling to diagnose what is wrong with her. Her body refuses to gain weight. She struggles to keep food down and fluids run right through her. We have worked very closely with Baylor hospital and her family to assess and examine her needs. She is HIV Negative. At 7 months we decided to bring her into the Safe Home to help her gain weight. However, she refused to settle in. She rejected all food, drink and attention. Changing tact, we took *Lerato home and continued with an intensive home-visit form of care. We have kept a very close eye on her over the past year and she seemed to do well at home.<br />
<br />
However, last week when we visited *Lerato we found that she had deteriorated rapidly and was now -4SD on the WHO Z score. Prompted by her mother, we decided to bring *Lerato back to the Safe Home to try to treat her here again. We have had to handle the situation very carefully, knowing full well how she reacted to Safe Home treatment last time. However, she has been with us for 6 days and we are very happy to announce that she has settled in well and is starting to gain weight. In 6 days, on the F100 diet, she has gained 2kg. She will stay here, as long as she remains happy and comfortable, to receive constant care from the Baylor and TTL staff. During this time we hope to monitor her health more closely and assess her illness.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*Child's name changed to protect identity</span>Hdoughty3http://www.blogger.com/profile/07917390407648869900noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-74209060483036503092015-03-13T07:33:00.000-07:002015-03-13T07:34:51.967-07:00Tongue-tied troubles at TTL <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ycbNdovT2wbCC5Y6B25eUZqnYx1VIeDZaSMOXizUjiNZZBoFnX86lX7MOeC_HPvDHxHFi10O4-D4Oasw7KFe4VJaLLwABJuP39crzF6g9XVDg6x6FeuwbG5Do1KkusIJTK2W07NFBMM/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ycbNdovT2wbCC5Y6B25eUZqnYx1VIeDZaSMOXizUjiNZZBoFnX86lX7MOeC_HPvDHxHFi10O4-D4Oasw7KFe4VJaLLwABJuP39crzF6g9XVDg6x6FeuwbG5Do1KkusIJTK2W07NFBMM/s1600/photo-2.JPG" height="200" width="149" /></a>The TTL Safe Home welcomed one of our tiniest babies this week. At 5 weeks and just 2.7 kg, Leboneng has a z-score of -4, indicating critically severe acute malnutrition. Ideally, children should have a z-score around the median for their height/weight, but this little guy is 4 standard deviations below the median. Leboneng's mother had complications following his birth, and was only able to breastfeed for 3 days before being taken to the nearest hospital for medical attention. Little Leboneng was left in the care of his adult sister, who could not afford formula and supplemented Leboneng only with water and sugar. Fortunately, Village Health Workers in his village alerted TTL Outreach staff of the baby's need for assistance while they were doing assessments at a nearby clinic. Our Outreach staff quickly recognised Leboneng's critical level of malnutrition, and brought him back to the TTL Safe Home immediately.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlIstgtClOxekq9OXKioXmpVh9H6H0jdGI7aPKGpCy9E_yA9RMoy6pO4Mir0CM0CUAcIelu9DfsFnWn45No5KnRR-2ocrvV_pB94bKJ7K0vLaUM1avcFWFgHBA39UI5QbDZD6JdlXPO4/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlIstgtClOxekq9OXKioXmpVh9H6H0jdGI7aPKGpCy9E_yA9RMoy6pO4Mir0CM0CUAcIelu9DfsFnWn45No5KnRR-2ocrvV_pB94bKJ7K0vLaUM1avcFWFgHBA39UI5QbDZD6JdlXPO4/s1600/photo.JPG" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Safe Home Supervisor 'M'e Lehela feeds Leboneng using a medicine syringe. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once Leboneng arrived at the Safe Home, we realised that there was another obstacle in the way of his eating and gaining weight. Leboneng has <i>ankyloglossia, </i>which is also known as being 'tongue-tied'. There is a short band of tissue tethering the bottom of his tongue's tip to the floor of his mouth. It is a condition which is present at birth, and it restricts the tongue's range of motion. This can result in difficulty eating, speaking, swallowing, and breast feeding. Sometimes the band of tissue can loosen over time and resolve on its own, and other times needs to be treated with surgery. We are already noticing the difficulty Leboneng has when bottle feeding as the process appears distressing for him. To make sure this little guy is getting the nutrition his vulnerable body needs so desperately, we are feeding him formula through a syringe. With 9 other children in the Safe Home, the Bo'm'e have their hands full. No matter what it takes or how long it takes, the team here will ensure that Leboneng grows stronger and healthier everyday!<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12505024466676978658noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-37846826440209206762015-03-10T02:01:00.003-07:002015-03-10T02:43:52.448-07:00Cleft Palate Conundrum <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWf7nPCliOLoy2kz1WZXB5iFc8o5B7aczKPDaDDMVnxGGhQTNqUOhPu09yoHTuDKl0X-X0TFJYy1aU5owUQBsnI6f105GxARoBcQ34zJVb6j4tHvTdm-DmfwrsVWPLlU5B700lLHEotLf/s1600/DSC_1486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWf7nPCliOLoy2kz1WZXB5iFc8o5B7aczKPDaDDMVnxGGhQTNqUOhPu09yoHTuDKl0X-X0TFJYy1aU5owUQBsnI6f105GxARoBcQ34zJVb6j4tHvTdm-DmfwrsVWPLlU5B700lLHEotLf/s1600/DSC_1486.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a>Two year old Seeiso waddled into our lives in November 2014 with severe malnutrition and an untreated cleft palate. At 7 months old a doctor visited his local clinic and identified the cleft palate and recorded it in his health book. However, the condition was not explained to the clinic staff and, as they did not know what it meant, it was ignored.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoX4K3gWqp5NWLNtkSMRg3Z9gDKgETy9zhMFwu0Qb2xa2g4hpHXRTf9H9anmZfD6_yFDLN6YhyJEtApiLVPAj3_CIu_tDyxEALmCa8q958v4K_tNxiHKgDyKyZtNKUgJrYxa3o-HmIzVQl/s1600/cleft-palate-repair-surgery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoX4K3gWqp5NWLNtkSMRg3Z9gDKgETy9zhMFwu0Qb2xa2g4hpHXRTf9H9anmZfD6_yFDLN6YhyJEtApiLVPAj3_CIu_tDyxEALmCa8q958v4K_tNxiHKgDyKyZtNKUgJrYxa3o-HmIzVQl/s1600/cleft-palate-repair-surgery.jpg" height="174" width="320" /></a>We found Seeiso whilst on Outreach and, at -3SD below median, we immediately admitted him to the Safe Home. Outreach staff reported that he was regurgitating food through his nostrils. We ran a full assessment on Seeiso and reviewed his health book, which is when we saw the doctor's comment about the cleft palate. TTL Safe Home Supervisor, 'M'e Lehela, got right on the case and reported his condition to Queen Elizabeth II Hospital and scheduled a surgery. It is now March and finally the time has come for his surgery. Seeiso has stayed with us at TTL Safe Home since October and we have monitored his health, nutrition and development very closely. He is now a healthy young boy, ready to withstand the wear and tear of surgery. We picked up Seeiso's mother from her home in Thaba Tseka and she stayed with us on campus over the weekend, rekindling her relationship with her son after almost 5 months apart. We then transported both mother and son to Maseru for the operation yesterday. We have arranged accommodation and return transportation for Friday when both mother and son will return to their home village.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6KpnaiAtfY6FJnInoEu0k0QvjexJy_z7odKGdLgLaf-24xHLR8FBIZiL4PoZqV637DDpQ6xLQ-ro9bieuZSQmGAdbspmHNcNVxkZB23HXOPV2inR869WxJ1wVvqpcytBXmCIQlo77akE/s1600/DSC_1610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6KpnaiAtfY6FJnInoEu0k0QvjexJy_z7odKGdLgLaf-24xHLR8FBIZiL4PoZqV637DDpQ6xLQ-ro9bieuZSQmGAdbspmHNcNVxkZB23HXOPV2inR869WxJ1wVvqpcytBXmCIQlo77akE/s1600/DSC_1610.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a><br />
We hope this will be a life changing surgery for little Seeiso and we will continue to monitor his recovery and development as we go.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Hdoughty3http://www.blogger.com/profile/07917390407648869900noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-5860323482915673902015-02-12T05:58:00.000-08:002015-02-12T07:02:17.446-08:00Flash flood devastates TTL Campus<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_qJGFNJ-XS7Do5QFsW3eyoMZsMVEGGNRCYTcJBc12SnB3ILIb4_ANXyVV7uc0_1A0juTNJNNLR-3h80EGCpjT6SHg7TKJ25qqsu5xcBawbFITSUAyAM55tbKPMlTK1qdpYOXHdmpgELc/s1600/DSC_1883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_qJGFNJ-XS7Do5QFsW3eyoMZsMVEGGNRCYTcJBc12SnB3ILIb4_ANXyVV7uc0_1A0juTNJNNLR-3h80EGCpjT6SHg7TKJ25qqsu5xcBawbFITSUAyAM55tbKPMlTK1qdpYOXHdmpgELc/s1600/DSC_1883.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXz4DeReTPZjn5nAGnmNQLc7ZplpWfkPd5NEA-BG9wpAmJLaHax_YERynhsJjaB8ZEvys0YwYa2MzRuHSazKm1RLqCM9vB23qrkrGeRJPRMdF4wauy_yVlQ3p7amqzXSqas3vLBsCxkUE/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXz4DeReTPZjn5nAGnmNQLc7ZplpWfkPd5NEA-BG9wpAmJLaHax_YERynhsJjaB8ZEvys0YwYa2MzRuHSazKm1RLqCM9vB23qrkrGeRJPRMdF4wauy_yVlQ3p7amqzXSqas3vLBsCxkUE/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" height="149" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is true that
things can change in an instant. Out of nowhere yesterday afternoon, the TTL
campus in Mokhotlong was hit hard by an intense storm that produced
golfball-size hail, massive winds and rain, and floods. The quiet creek running
alongside campus turned into a raging river taking trees and everything else in
its path. Heavy rains, lightning and thunder carried on for over an hour and a
half. Flood waters poured into campus, uprooting and devastating all of our
crops. Braving the elements to run to a different building resulted in
navigating knee-high currents moving not just mud but rocks, bones, crops, and
garbage. Literally all we could do was watch as Mother Nature went
rogue. </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/s_vi/bmqP7GKlk7c/default.jpg?sqp=CLDa8qYF&rs=AOn4CLAftF2cmXEnU4mp9do-L_InFm8nXg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bmqP7GKlk7c?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKw4POmyMTPyWB0VrKZlcMCVQeE1hz06FjZ_EF03ocrs2K4pJtEVQd02bcb0VGC-LGsS_zh6QfZDpCwMLTDgfFHsZlVjz-XEVgcLRRp80UthqOCMGbtz2DOOFdYNnGsZyeR1QS-0F0Afc/s1600/IMG_4297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKw4POmyMTPyWB0VrKZlcMCVQeE1hz06FjZ_EF03ocrs2K4pJtEVQd02bcb0VGC-LGsS_zh6QfZDpCwMLTDgfFHsZlVjz-XEVgcLRRp80UthqOCMGbtz2DOOFdYNnGsZyeR1QS-0F0Afc/s1600/IMG_4297.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We were all very
fortunate to be safe and despite the fact the flood waters reached such a
height that they flooded the Safe Home, we were able to get the babies to
safety. After looking around campus in the daylight, we realised the depth of
the damage done by the storm. TTL staff, Fellows, and visitors all came
together with spades, rakes, and wheelbarrows to relocate our pathways and
walks. It took over 6 hours for the job to be complete, with many more days of
work on campus left to do. Most upsetting is our beautiful garden, which has
been completely washed away by the rain. The garden that provided fresh food
for the children in the Safe Home has now disappeared and won't be salvageable
before the fall arrives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8yjYiNh6uZI0QHWBvTE4hZxvr627Ns4hJ7aTHJXfHCjqIGwBUr00KXxXoASMZl9X1tR8PGhH52JKYIlv1TXV_rYb9GD8rI14MUghv2_Vnpeo1OQyC2TlcycKn2_IQwFny1JUtciHZrbd/s1600/IMG_4304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8yjYiNh6uZI0QHWBvTE4hZxvr627Ns4hJ7aTHJXfHCjqIGwBUr00KXxXoASMZl9X1tR8PGhH52JKYIlv1TXV_rYb9GD8rI14MUghv2_Vnpeo1OQyC2TlcycKn2_IQwFny1JUtciHZrbd/s1600/IMG_4304.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are thinking
about all of our community clients and partners now as they too struggle to
cope with the aftermath of the storm. Food security is a chronic issue here in
Lesotho, and TTL has attempted to lessen the burden by providing our client
families with seed packages for their own sustainable gardens. We realise with
heavy hearts that like our garden on campus, the gardens of many families in
and around Mokhotlong will have washed away. Now more than ever, the work of
TTL is essential for those who are most vulnerable. </span><span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">PLEASE, if you can, please help our clients to get back on their feet and see them through until the next harvest. Donate <a href="http://www.touchingtinylives.org/s/838/social.aspx?sid=838&gid=1&pgid=278">here</a> if you are from North America, and <a href="http://www.ttl-lesotho.org/donate/">here</a> if you are from the rest of the world, so that TTL can buy canned vegetables and meat to see them through this incredibly devastating and difficult time. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Thank you. </b></span></div>
</div>
Hdoughty3http://www.blogger.com/profile/07917390407648869900noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-90138489983475816562015-02-09T04:56:00.000-08:002015-02-09T05:09:51.798-08:00Mokhotlong gears up for national election<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicS_fwkj9E0-3dfIFqHJ98ouNGOMK4Xmoon0LGX-0uqmoSZWf4MSWdC3FCJ1aY8TpKp2uvM40obBb1uxnMtM-3Fl0An-0kCGtihdplJZflL7l2MN-gGozXFP9mNooSc4cYVc2Q9W9d5R4/s1600/DSC_1816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicS_fwkj9E0-3dfIFqHJ98ouNGOMK4Xmoon0LGX-0uqmoSZWf4MSWdC3FCJ1aY8TpKp2uvM40obBb1uxnMtM-3Fl0An-0kCGtihdplJZflL7l2MN-gGozXFP9mNooSc4cYVc2Q9W9d5R4/s1600/DSC_1816.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
Mokhotlong Camp Town was buzzing with energy and excitement this weekend, as supporters from 4 Mokhotlong districts flooded our small town for a political rally. The normally quiet village was transformed into a sea of colours, vehicles, dancing, singing, and camaraderie. It was a such a pleasure to see Basotho from a variety of districts unite for a common purpose.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4iaNkDCrkWoRC7OxGyK9Sea4fEu7091eQdPE-pHj5YxOicah7lPkfN5MSr6Uy_JLBBTcesFvfSMfLLX4Rl4F1BM0KTo5cMuHJccBMWPHlta2-dVCRUhZ_XakcDSS56BpqQ1pMBYghS0/s1600/DSC_1811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4iaNkDCrkWoRC7OxGyK9Sea4fEu7091eQdPE-pHj5YxOicah7lPkfN5MSr6Uy_JLBBTcesFvfSMfLLX4Rl4F1BM0KTo5cMuHJccBMWPHlta2-dVCRUhZ_XakcDSS56BpqQ1pMBYghS0/s1600/DSC_1811.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSt6GUqtwYhy17-L6GmfzLP_XX8oU4JJa4I6ZoE_xXtB9shxHEmiYkj2ofac1N6L5bpYINZSQ7eCRLKcGB65A1YIVhDeXxpmG_-U7-mfszPSMoYyQvXZtmwSdRdDEjtZ9ZN5_dr0zi0lo/s1600/DSC_1783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSt6GUqtwYhy17-L6GmfzLP_XX8oU4JJa4I6ZoE_xXtB9shxHEmiYkj2ofac1N6L5bpYINZSQ7eCRLKcGB65A1YIVhDeXxpmG_-U7-mfszPSMoYyQvXZtmwSdRdDEjtZ9ZN5_dr0zi0lo/s1600/DSC_1783.JPG" height="200" width="133" /></a>The national election is coming up on 28 February 2015, 2 years ahead of schedule as a result of the political instability in Lesotho in September 2014. The call for <a href="http://www.publiceyenews.com/site/2014/10/02/lesotho-to-go-for-early-elections/" target="_blank">early elections</a> aims to bring stability to the current government system and give Basotho people the opportunity to have their voices heard through the power of democratic voting. While <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4y8Ms6ooa8" target="_blank">political tension</a> is running high, it is inspiring to see the amount of people who are committed to peaceful elections. The spirit and pride of local people makes us at TTL proud to be part of such a strong community.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12505024466676978658noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-57162227520595195092015-02-06T00:36:00.004-08:002015-02-06T00:36:59.836-08:00What a valuable Alliance..Today we have welcomed the wonderful team from Alliance Insurance. Alliance has supported TTL for a number of years and 2014 was no different!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwz9M1s2pXwj4J6nHEJrPyFEM1cMf-K-BnD0qiVydwZiC6jKrWK5HsF_Cjm1MWkHcT7-rdwJIxEBW3CFNFPMz1IqfkwmineVkgMoRsRmRNTYkoCghB-Bt2-nEzdH6csQThs4m5pN1ruKV/s1600/DSC_1740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwz9M1s2pXwj4J6nHEJrPyFEM1cMf-K-BnD0qiVydwZiC6jKrWK5HsF_Cjm1MWkHcT7-rdwJIxEBW3CFNFPMz1IqfkwmineVkgMoRsRmRNTYkoCghB-Bt2-nEzdH6csQThs4m5pN1ruKV/s1600/DSC_1740.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTSbn3RDO2Pg15sdlULdUDh3DTzv-VzqHwkd1G-wPjydxw7ORh1IIbtZ1Je8I986d3i4seOkHM_TsWQP3MxJhgP-Gv51-oMM7-eLSpa-vgx28NdkNwOFy4Vq5imuZa88-V3-UunNWjnC0/s1600/DSC_1751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTSbn3RDO2Pg15sdlULdUDh3DTzv-VzqHwkd1G-wPjydxw7ORh1IIbtZ1Je8I986d3i4seOkHM_TsWQP3MxJhgP-Gv51-oMM7-eLSpa-vgx28NdkNwOFy4Vq5imuZa88-V3-UunNWjnC0/s1600/DSC_1751.JPG" height="200" style="cursor: move;" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwtHMirsgbK4OkflD54qq2HPY0cPJ1wcyqKwBvH98d3pHKBwoNHsLI9ctxwD9Phq-_EmuU36NAWpjjEqquJoincoqVmeveXRRWtizfS5W8MfsQj9qir0Y6Dbt6p3Viacxgw9ufG4UFiJE/s1600/DSC_1732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwtHMirsgbK4OkflD54qq2HPY0cPJ1wcyqKwBvH98d3pHKBwoNHsLI9ctxwD9Phq-_EmuU36NAWpjjEqquJoincoqVmeveXRRWtizfS5W8MfsQj9qir0Y6Dbt6p3Viacxgw9ufG4UFiJE/s1600/DSC_1732.JPG" height="133" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a>Their brilliant CSR team organised a charity football tournament (soccer) in December 2014 and all proceeds have been donated to TTL. Today we are hosting a Cheque Presentation Ceremony on TTL campus, to extend our huge, heartfelt thanks for their selfless and innovative generosity.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsC_PAGo4B2Jy6J1Q2NfCg69_PfxwgRvlNvgtUHUZTTkyA9ROczpMJfN51nVPKUj8zfmXEtPfzL47Rp3JImJnjAC-fmjBly31w2b41ufHVaT_SfOeJnjIDu-azE_8BGqsq2RaIbVFxlz2H/s1600/DSC_1742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsC_PAGo4B2Jy6J1Q2NfCg69_PfxwgRvlNvgtUHUZTTkyA9ROczpMJfN51nVPKUj8zfmXEtPfzL47Rp3JImJnjAC-fmjBly31w2b41ufHVaT_SfOeJnjIDu-azE_8BGqsq2RaIbVFxlz2H/s1600/DSC_1742.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a><b>Thank you Alliance!!</b>Hdoughty3http://www.blogger.com/profile/07917390407648869900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-54653131919878274882015-01-25T23:32:00.000-08:002015-01-25T23:33:20.148-08:00TTL is back online!! New website!<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Watch out world, TTL is back online and looking better than ever! </span></b></h2>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The creative genius, Mr Angel Escamilla, has designed a visually spectacular, wonderful and interactive new website for TTL and we could not be happier with his work! Check out this brilliant new website <a href="http://www.ttl-lesotho.org/">here</a>!</span></b></h3>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLvEtXJwhY39p8X-AeE6jmA1CBQvhL0WE11opJK_7ZDfG8VBbD5wH29D-cfTjM4C-jyNpoJSV0btUFwbFr2bVN_2_R9ONpaoutXWnIkePkee7hQXRu0ojg_RW9MkIg2YD9eSgO-JbSKEm/s1600/Screenshot1+of+website.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLvEtXJwhY39p8X-AeE6jmA1CBQvhL0WE11opJK_7ZDfG8VBbD5wH29D-cfTjM4C-jyNpoJSV0btUFwbFr2bVN_2_R9ONpaoutXWnIkePkee7hQXRu0ojg_RW9MkIg2YD9eSgO-JbSKEm/s1600/Screenshot1+of+website.PNG" height="170" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stunning new front page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In October 2014, creative genius Angel Escamilla walked through our doors and offered to redesign TTL's website. We could not believe our luck! We are so geographically isolated from the world, we heavily rely on our online portals to connect with people like your good selves. Therefore, the offer of a brand new and smart redesign for our website was very much appreciated!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUaRpPgPMzK-2pkBWbXC2fqRAoWtjQdk5n_WmLYbhUELx0oJ47O6kokYgjXuil0Zaayij6xv19JDwdep0xk4Z-tO_J_saEm-gmFrrvEuzXJ6B5dLbVLE57PRfykx6P3VnjAcIDyFpbFVI/s1600/Screenshot3+of+website.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUaRpPgPMzK-2pkBWbXC2fqRAoWtjQdk5n_WmLYbhUELx0oJ47O6kokYgjXuil0Zaayij6xv19JDwdep0xk4Z-tO_J_saEm-gmFrrvEuzXJ6B5dLbVLE57PRfykx6P3VnjAcIDyFpbFVI/s1600/Screenshot3+of+website.PNG" height="170" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's even an interactive map of where we work!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The end result could not be better. We never imagined that our website could look so brilliant! It offers brand new interactive features, such as: online donations, interactive maps of where we work, a brand new video gallery, a meet the staff page and interactive updates of our social media! We are so excited to share it with you. So, without further ado, we invite you to check out our brand new website on: <a href="http://www.ttl-lesotho.org/">www.ttl-lesotho.org</a>!<br />
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2I0SEjt2nNd4xL1N2k13SWCGI2P-Bw5HRD9q5A4_y0L4WUszGhNXfbdo3VD4DIaqCpZ6ERNS5XVQoeZQWyHf4LogQXnNd5T268uMDq2-AgHt7IFJP8JM8AjZu75CoTyD5Kk9Orlk9GQVU/s1600/Screenshot2+of+website.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2I0SEjt2nNd4xL1N2k13SWCGI2P-Bw5HRD9q5A4_y0L4WUszGhNXfbdo3VD4DIaqCpZ6ERNS5XVQoeZQWyHf4LogQXnNd5T268uMDq2-AgHt7IFJP8JM8AjZu75CoTyD5Kk9Orlk9GQVU/s1600/Screenshot2+of+website.PNG" height="170" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new website now allows you to make automatic transfers to <br />
TTL's bank account!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Hdoughty3http://www.blogger.com/profile/07917390407648869900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-50779920752782239632015-01-12T00:03:00.002-08:002015-01-12T02:31:17.522-08:00Progress Report on TTL's Tiny Twins!You may remember TTL's tiniest twins, admitted to the Safe Home early in December? One month old they weighed no more than a bag of flour between the two of them!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mGBurQMMEgzM_D_OWSISD5emGstd2ObT_W0Q2D7cvJL1fVbwd_82Mn3tvSbS2KD2ELQk3dr1yKcknwveUvcuqw0rlP4AtRnulqR1wfH2eP-n_edkBdNBwRhfeOzqRFYqg6Mz2fW8tyWL/s1600/Playground+(1%2Bof%2B1)-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mGBurQMMEgzM_D_OWSISD5emGstd2ObT_W0Q2D7cvJL1fVbwd_82Mn3tvSbS2KD2ELQk3dr1yKcknwveUvcuqw0rlP4AtRnulqR1wfH2eP-n_edkBdNBwRhfeOzqRFYqg6Mz2fW8tyWL/s1600/Playground+(1%2Bof%2B1)-6.jpg" height="200" width="128" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOch5nInE31LKCz77djy_ZZ-v2bokmpeygQjh-cTW5Uzrtq-aoVsNKeUp7Q_BYrrCVeEUWprMl3Y6QWiUhZhUVTHnuty8L5WN7fVC3v2GDHGuDDHUW0H08vfQuARlBlNO-kjgWoAx3JjmM/s1600/Playground+(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOch5nInE31LKCz77djy_ZZ-v2bokmpeygQjh-cTW5Uzrtq-aoVsNKeUp7Q_BYrrCVeEUWprMl3Y6QWiUhZhUVTHnuty8L5WN7fVC3v2GDHGuDDHUW0H08vfQuARlBlNO-kjgWoAx3JjmM/s1600/Playground+(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" height="173" width="320" /></a> *Thuso was so severely malnourished he could hardly keep milk down. His brother, <span style="text-align: center;">*Thabang, was not only severely malnourished but also suffering from pneumonia. They had entered the world under very peculiar circumstances- which had not only affected their development but had also made a severe impact on their mother's mental health. The kiddos forced their way into the world prematurely and caught their young mother by surprise. She gave birth to Thabang at home, panicked, and decided to walk 14 miles to Mokhotlong Hospital to give birth to Thuso. Unfortunately this ordeal was too much for her to deal with, and she has been hospitalised every since for psychosis and post-natal depression.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpUb1dWqKoqq9FQ3CEqQP1M_ZodLUmNwpQDx1DrItTMhDRFvJmjrXwh5YA_FGqBxOcRMq8-xwng7Tm6D1LJnz5hiQTyYWt4skCvj4mdLMWBgq5KOMx_v3CcpZr3kylG3F6ci1DsrJrA7p/s1600/20150112_083413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpUb1dWqKoqq9FQ3CEqQP1M_ZodLUmNwpQDx1DrItTMhDRFvJmjrXwh5YA_FGqBxOcRMq8-xwng7Tm6D1LJnz5hiQTyYWt4skCvj4mdLMWBgq5KOMx_v3CcpZr3kylG3F6ci1DsrJrA7p/s1600/20150112_083413.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPMCSVac_3slPEnpTvMAm4txf9aWF8PjxHkxbWoeVHPhx_8b6EVpRa0EsTw_hK_r42BEahlfKAqROyp1jP3hH1C16gJgE6TfFcXEGAvBSEX4wsfWBDGkrtWCGMBzUs7i-aPTCmc2asheg/s1600/20150112_090139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPMCSVac_3slPEnpTvMAm4txf9aWF8PjxHkxbWoeVHPhx_8b6EVpRa0EsTw_hK_r42BEahlfKAqROyp1jP3hH1C16gJgE6TfFcXEGAvBSEX4wsfWBDGkrtWCGMBzUs7i-aPTCmc2asheg/s1600/20150112_090139.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a><br />
TTL has been working very hard with both the twins and the mother. The babies are doing extremely well in the Safe Home. They have grown into huge babes (weighing 4.2kg and 4.8kg respectively) and *Thabang has already started to be able to lift his head when placed on his stomach. 'M'e Lehela (Safe Home Supervisor) has also been visiting the mother on regular basis to keep track of her progress and to give her updates on her babies.<br />
<br />
We are doing everything possible to aid both Mum and babes' progress in the hope that they will soon be able to return home!<br />
<br />
<br />Hdoughty3http://www.blogger.com/profile/07917390407648869900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-62171148464967437982014-12-17T01:55:00.000-08:002014-12-17T01:55:05.560-08:00Getting ready for Christmas! <h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>MERRY CHRISTMAS - <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.0419044494629px;">KERESEMESE E MONATE</span></b></span></h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-jw-ij3EZDOCwxS_r310whasLgNecwo4qqbVmE_zb1l2WBUDRB1FLcTFcz4Yz8Gx6XsBy8QTXwBKcX-H7iIdUmrJPYwBKuPZiGkAgYRaNRBwGzUYm4GwQv2BozEIa7-B5qdjdtgYgRCn/s1600/Cool+idea+for+xmas+card!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-jw-ij3EZDOCwxS_r310whasLgNecwo4qqbVmE_zb1l2WBUDRB1FLcTFcz4Yz8Gx6XsBy8QTXwBKcX-H7iIdUmrJPYwBKuPZiGkAgYRaNRBwGzUYm4GwQv2BozEIa7-B5qdjdtgYgRCn/s1600/Cool+idea+for+xmas+card!.jpg" height="200" width="171" /></a><br />
Mokhotlong is getting green, the flowers are in bloom and there's excitement in the air....that can only mean one thing - the countdown to Christmas in Lesotho is on!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErHXnHGi-CY-XMyLUC_FIFoCgYKhfRHPoCSHk6hL6jx1GX5HvVl2icD00dhEMXpdlFN16Z6WX08b1NDxxKornl6JjF6t7HtGc5L1u1TqkvQlguo_lRXmWUrgkbu_plD8G34hgQ6yjihw/s1600/photo(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErHXnHGi-CY-XMyLUC_FIFoCgYKhfRHPoCSHk6hL6jx1GX5HvVl2icD00dhEMXpdlFN16Z6WX08b1NDxxKornl6JjF6t7HtGc5L1u1TqkvQlguo_lRXmWUrgkbu_plD8G34hgQ6yjihw/s1600/photo(7).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Mamosa shows us her Christmas cheer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Christmas in Mokhotlong means spending time with family and friends and cooking meals to share with loved ones. Some of the children in the Safe Home will stay with us for the Christmas season in order to continue growing stronger and healthier. We look forward to spending the the holidays with these amazing children. We are also excited for the little ones who are preparing to be reunited with their families in the days coming up to Christmas.<br />
<br />
This time of year helps remind us what we are thankful for and motivates us to give to those who need it most. At TTL, we are dedicated to providing children with the nutrition, support, and love that they need all year, and most especially at Christmas.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>We hope that you will take some time this season to reflect on your blessings as we continue to care for the greatest gifts in Mokhotlong.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12505024466676978658noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-8862231789810043122014-12-01T00:34:00.000-08:002014-12-01T00:34:00.146-08:00World AIDS Day 2014<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcplRJSGjTSNoOrWZZ6_1EfbG0Ixj_VkAVw-LbqmuKxRK9SOy2mkrMaD_Ws7ieShj0jGr0CZbiiiJ3_x_Q8M7tPg5iM2mXXpDkJd-V6A8taDCy-4XMnM3ind33CTFioTriKbyO4t2oNA/s1600/index.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcplRJSGjTSNoOrWZZ6_1EfbG0Ixj_VkAVw-LbqmuKxRK9SOy2mkrMaD_Ws7ieShj0jGr0CZbiiiJ3_x_Q8M7tPg5iM2mXXpDkJd-V6A8taDCy-4XMnM3ind33CTFioTriKbyO4t2oNA/s1600/index.jpg" height="200" width="169" /></a>December 1st is World AIDS Day, where people around the globe come together to raise awareness for the achievements that have been made, the work that is currently being done, and highlight the importance of continuing the fight against AIDS. <br />
<br />
At TTL, we deal with the effects of HIV/AIDS on a daily basis as we work to mitigate the impact on Lesotho's vulnerable children under-5. <br />
<br />
In a country of 2.1 million people --<br />
<ul>
<li>Almost 1 in 4 are living with HIV - that's nearly 25%, making it the 2nd highest HIV prevalence in the world</li>
<li>AIDS is the #1 cause of death </li>
<li>1 in 3 children are orphans</li>
<li>37,172 children under-14 are HIV-positive</li>
<li>Life expectancy at birth is 48.7 years </li>
</ul>
<br />
The 2014 theme for World AIDS Day is “<b>Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-free Generation</b>". No one can do it alone, and we at TTL rely on our community partners to make a difference in the lives of the children of Lesotho. This World AIDS Day, please show your support for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and wear a red ribbon, make a donation, volunteer, or spread the word!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCn2VmsRAsYwpM5jjYGPtRopdvgqf-y_11EabolGOifBh52ia8ZjvFNqC9d3e_khZvnLPmETYHFySzUNOe0PowPg8QhTUG2H08HEXxlcsfBipYtjRhJg7-ESR81jhE3eAqc6Jv3J7vFA/s1600/DSC_1424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCn2VmsRAsYwpM5jjYGPtRopdvgqf-y_11EabolGOifBh52ia8ZjvFNqC9d3e_khZvnLPmETYHFySzUNOe0PowPg8QhTUG2H08HEXxlcsfBipYtjRhJg7-ESR81jhE3eAqc6Jv3J7vFA/s1600/DSC_1424.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TTL staff show their support for World AIDS Day by wearing red!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A message from the voices of Lesotho -<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>"It looks like a losing battle but we have hope, and it's stronger than fear". </i><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Xczw2zQZrfDHuMWYQbDEE7N4P6wxjYLM_EcH2YgASNuzwLnwZJh5sd6wVkM1rD00vplhyphenhyphen-4YkbY1qDx_eIm_EhqySuOKM2WXnq1Pa1MxQfxwd9eq-Fdpx0Shy4s_O07ouKx-Yi28aMo/s1600/DSC_1432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Xczw2zQZrfDHuMWYQbDEE7N4P6wxjYLM_EcH2YgASNuzwLnwZJh5sd6wVkM1rD00vplhyphenhyphen-4YkbY1qDx_eIm_EhqySuOKM2WXnq1Pa1MxQfxwd9eq-Fdpx0Shy4s_O07ouKx-Yi28aMo/s1600/DSC_1432.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#worldaidsday2014</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12505024466676978658noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-11939543479176938272014-11-20T05:22:00.001-08:002014-11-20T05:27:20.545-08:00Food Crisis Christmas Appeal<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This year has been incredibly difficult for our 330 clients in Mokhotlong and Thaba Tseka. Failed
harvests and a late rainy season have left them in dire need of seeds, bumper
food packages & access to medical care. We are currently overwhelmed by the
number of people needing our help and our resources cannot be stretched to
cover them all. Please, give the gift of life this Christmas by sending us a
small donation which will go directly towards buying more maize meal, seeds and
protein-rich food for our clients. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">On August 30th 2014, the General Lieutenant of the army led a military coup against the Prime Minister of Lesotho. Ongoing problems (contained to the political elite) have devastated the productivity and efficiency of local services. The Department of Agriculture, Food Security and Public Health have crumbled in the highlands, leaving NGOs like TTL to pick up the slack. Without the Departments' help to cultivate land (the use of combine harvesters, tractors, ploughs etc) people have been unable to harvest crops this season. We are doing everything we can to help our clients access food, whilst taking on new clients daily. Therefore, your gift will go directly to feeding a child not only at Christmas but until the next harvest season. </span></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">Please help us to continue to save lives,
one child at a time.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="line-height: 12.8400001525879px;">Thank you, bless you and Merry Christmas.</span></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="line-height: 12.8400001525879px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="line-height: 12.8400001525879px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vipm1Sqqws8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Hdoughty3http://www.blogger.com/profile/07917390407648869900noreply@blogger.com0Mokhotlong, Lesotho-29.288495 29.065567999999985-29.316193000000002 29.025227499999986 -29.260797 29.105908499999984tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-70964221324381890472014-11-14T00:05:00.000-08:002014-11-14T00:31:39.591-08:00Rea leboha Gem Diamonds! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlCvDDCe873BhK9Dz1MBxe82OnZa9fgPxW7DQVqS8jlJ2jhnlGGrgcgx-ROkbV8HeFkP0Lje-H7Pkv-jJaWIQQRZboE7vI1vaymUJwE7dKR0ZgGWtvat_eWfN7sJdM02gkr_aurcFeu04/s1600/Playground+(1%2Bof%2B1)-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlCvDDCe873BhK9Dz1MBxe82OnZa9fgPxW7DQVqS8jlJ2jhnlGGrgcgx-ROkbV8HeFkP0Lje-H7Pkv-jJaWIQQRZboE7vI1vaymUJwE7dKR0ZgGWtvat_eWfN7sJdM02gkr_aurcFeu04/s320/Playground+(1%2Bof%2B1)-14.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TTL's MD with District Education Secretary,<br />
CEO of Gem Diamonds, Director of Sentebale, <br />
District Administrator, Prince Seeiso,<br />
UNICEF Representative &Minister of Health, </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On November 12th, Touching Tiny Lives and our partners Sentebale hosted a fantastic event at the Mokhotlong Hotel to show our combined appreciation for a generous donation by Gem Diamonds. We were very honoured to have the pleasure of hosting Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, Dr Pinkie Manamolela- Minister of Health, Ms Mazvi Maharasoa- CEO of Gem Diamonds, Mr Motsamai Mokoto- Mokhotlong District Administrator, Representatives from the Ministry of Education, Health Officials from Mokhotlong Hospital, The Child Protection Officer of the Lesotho Police Headquarters and group of honoured guests from Sentebale at the event.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhahzCVbxwbT3gf2Lwb4WdCY2WR1j51p1nKSm6FOtiAWGGFW6bSOTx7PYdFEn9lfw7_ue6DgqxaSKsWQ4jZoaMvHrh-9dpBI7sMNcm4lgoX7uEq1xFPn1qBU2adOTlpBNrjHcF1n-GZPpF/s1600/Playground+(1%2Bof%2B1)-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhahzCVbxwbT3gf2Lwb4WdCY2WR1j51p1nKSm6FOtiAWGGFW6bSOTx7PYdFEn9lfw7_ue6DgqxaSKsWQ4jZoaMvHrh-9dpBI7sMNcm4lgoX7uEq1xFPn1qBU2adOTlpBNrjHcF1n-GZPpF/s200/Playground+(1%2Bof%2B1)-6.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minister of Health and Prince Seeiso listening to <br />
TTL's MD explain what we do at TTL</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhug6gi7rX8LG1nPIhO1yuXbzndgwOpKdV0SBQSbd-ctjS-0ZW9RfljkKclW0yN4UZP2yrAicirGB8Y8ujDISJMq6GCvhOjo8Qhc_K1mZqpp9g-K-BbUTNF2xIHtwWYWBNGkm5fdX21zNZd/s1600/Playground+(1%2Bof%2B1)-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhug6gi7rX8LG1nPIhO1yuXbzndgwOpKdV0SBQSbd-ctjS-0ZW9RfljkKclW0yN4UZP2yrAicirGB8Y8ujDISJMq6GCvhOjo8Qhc_K1mZqpp9g-K-BbUTNF2xIHtwWYWBNGkm5fdX21zNZd/s200/Playground+(1%2Bof%2B1)-21.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Pinkie learns about our<br />
ECD and nutrition schedules</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The food crisis in Lesotho continues to reach unprecedented heights, causing many of our clients to suffer gravely from late harvests and lack of food. But Gem Diamonds' donation has brought hope to Mokhotlong and Thaba-Tseka. With their help, TTL has added extra maize meal to our Outreach food packages and provided the necessary health care to help the children and families through this tough time. Outreach has also been able to to launch our <a href="http://blog.touchingtinylives.org/2014/10/planting-seeds-for-change.html">'Needs for Seeds' initiative</a>, distributing packages of cabbage, carrots, spinach and squash seeds to each TTL client family. Along with providing some direction on how best to use the land available for a garden, our Outreach staff will collaborate with the Lesotho District Ministry of Agriculture in Mokhotlong to make sure families are receiving information on proper planting techniques. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJCPmX4tde44ZjuXjH52wOe1ARJIzYNeqWROdyYj5wHhYIO5eOdo4bfh2EGVQu8DdmIqQH9LroHmVRfPeUsrPWe9Ra9Utb_5wpeV8pFH08QlrQkhj0aAPcbR8FIqY7mNfFpNsJHZUQkz-/s1600/Playground+(1%2Bof%2B1)-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJCPmX4tde44ZjuXjH52wOe1ARJIzYNeqWROdyYj5wHhYIO5eOdo4bfh2EGVQu8DdmIqQH9LroHmVRfPeUsrPWe9Ra9Utb_5wpeV8pFH08QlrQkhj0aAPcbR8FIqY7mNfFpNsJHZUQkz-/s200/Playground+(1%2Bof%2B1)-11.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prince Seeiso captivates the audience</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">TTL was thrilled to have our guests visit our campus in Mokhotlong camp town in order to see the many ways in which the generous donation from Gem Diamonds will help local children and families. A tour of the Safe Home and some play time with the kids was a highlight of the day. </span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAwaYZ3DJqC7HPlFS2z9n_QjqjG6OuxxNP4flkLMOdYRzkNJRKfFxUR-qpcbKJEp1x2iKBBDjp4MDgX6OBh4qKiJJ5yCG10AIjv40Ux8O0MvflsIZY7caairJmGFJNZ6td2KMYNCyXMu4/s1600/Playground+(1%2Bof%2B1)-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAwaYZ3DJqC7HPlFS2z9n_QjqjG6OuxxNP4flkLMOdYRzkNJRKfFxUR-qpcbKJEp1x2iKBBDjp4MDgX6OBh4qKiJJ5yCG10AIjv40Ux8O0MvflsIZY7caairJmGFJNZ6td2KMYNCyXMu4/s200/Playground+(1%2Bof%2B1)-19.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minister of Health meets the children<br />
and Bo'm'e of the Safe Home</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We want to express our gratitude to Gem Diamonds for assisting us to help save lives, one child at a time</span>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.1800003051758px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />Hdoughty3http://www.blogger.com/profile/07917390407648869900noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-18377418922196718762014-10-30T03:49:00.000-07:002014-10-30T03:49:19.927-07:00Planting seeds for change<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdNpyO4nblRzynWDCyCInOIqtCJdjI2WF6bcROy8zyEK3PcVnCP_yZVOnn7jdvvGHXREr9HZwNw68Cw3kofQo0C2FR9XQef-ysRiI5jodT2mavrbxB6hvw-xVE_q6Fzkep-7RQ2XWg3Q/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdNpyO4nblRzynWDCyCInOIqtCJdjI2WF6bcROy8zyEK3PcVnCP_yZVOnn7jdvvGHXREr9HZwNw68Cw3kofQo0C2FR9XQef-ysRiI5jodT2mavrbxB6hvw-xVE_q6Fzkep-7RQ2XWg3Q/s1600/image.jpg" height="320" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tanki gets into the gardening spirit!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
Responding to the
chronic food shortage, TTL focuses on
preventing
and improving childhood malnutrition rates in the Mokhotlong and Thaba-
Tseka districts of Lesotho. Many rural families face the ongoing risk of
food insecurity given that many people do not have
access to agricultural land and those that do may not have the necessary
equipment and seeds. Situations like this have resulted in a stunting rate of
children under-5 of almost 40% in Lesotho according to the World Food
Programme. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
The TTL Outreach Program
has been
providing children under-5 with food packages on a monthly basis
consisting of,
amongst a variety of other items, canned vegetables. We are always looking for ways
to improve our services, and we strive to support our
families in achieving food security and self-sustaining food sources - plus we want to spread the word about how good vegetables are for a
child's balanced diet! So we are excited to introduce our newest project
- <b>Needs for Seeds!</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b> </b>At
the start of the Spring season this September, TTL Outreach staff began
distributing packages of cabbage,
carrots, spinach, and squash seeds to each TTL client family. Along with
providing some direction on how best to use the land available for a
garden, our Outreach staff will collaborate with the
Lesotho District Ministry of Agriculture in Mokhotlong to make sure
families are receiving information on proper planting
techniques. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTXNlJVyPSCFZf94MNSypexf0zsepiPSMspcOkYhyegeVMrpiKzu2evZ-gpFAiGmQatGM6prHLfO5m6OQu8dXs4eQlavuG0IMaXR5pSiTk_f7IZXcoBsFtIVPtylgcalJQ17b6cYcH2o/s1600/WW_sneak_veggies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTXNlJVyPSCFZf94MNSypexf0zsepiPSMspcOkYhyegeVMrpiKzu2evZ-gpFAiGmQatGM6prHLfO5m6OQu8dXs4eQlavuG0IMaXR5pSiTk_f7IZXcoBsFtIVPtylgcalJQ17b6cYcH2o/s1600/WW_sneak_veggies.jpg" height="194" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We are looking forward to watching the children grow along with the new family gardens! <br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12505024466676978658noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-79732437913502994422014-10-24T08:17:00.001-07:002014-10-24T08:17:22.572-07:00Happy UN Day 2014<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EJZu8glQ9uU" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today marks the 69th anniversary of the United Nations, an organisation founded on the very principals of peace and prosperity. UNICEF, a programme of the U.N devised which provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries, has long been a partner with Touching Tiny Lives. So, we would like to take they time to show our thanks and appreciation for all they have done for us over the years. </span><br /><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheers to the next 69 years!! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Hdoughty3http://www.blogger.com/profile/07917390407648869900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-60760704347787585392014-10-16T05:10:00.001-07:002014-10-16T05:10:51.909-07:00United Nations' International Day of Rural Women<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWmjDLteepiDyZjrImOMSvq8KMq7h_pCvUbZX8VLZ6F9n6n0kwpyFbP0N-_uNjreNnXYkaJ8WcjZWspxmmsrtspwXhtPHEgkfCyhAaN3cMAh5xh_A1sJz4stu395d6Fz8udF11ybMGcw/s1600/IMG_9679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWmjDLteepiDyZjrImOMSvq8KMq7h_pCvUbZX8VLZ6F9n6n0kwpyFbP0N-_uNjreNnXYkaJ8WcjZWspxmmsrtspwXhtPHEgkfCyhAaN3cMAh5xh_A1sJz4stu395d6Fz8udF11ybMGcw/s1600/IMG_9679.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Basotho grandmother brings her little one for a check up with TTL. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Every year, the UN invites us to celebrate the word-wide unsung heroes by celebrating <b>International Day of Rural Women</b> on <b>October 15th</b>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
This
is a day to mark the important work done by rural women in the areas of
agriculture and rural development by improving food security and
eradicating rural poverty. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
TTL works in the most rural and
under-served areas of Lesotho. The women (or Bo'M'e) of Lesotho are
truly the backbone of the country. At TTL, we witness Bo'M'e work
tirelessly to provide for their children, grandchildren, families, and
neighbors. Whether it's trekking over mountain terrain to get their
children to a clinic, collecting wood, tending the garden, or cooking
for the family, the Bo'M'e in rural Lesotho never cease to amaze us. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Bo'M'e are our biggest partners at TTL and today we say a huge REA LEBOHA for everything you do! <br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgQDJcrBy9PrBxqQ6njUyfFPj1UbKj8-nf_vvuQYuoW2RVyyhd46qYIN-ZdfpLDKgkoKKc8E1ggv_ukxL_2tUmgyeRcFlCK2R4rFHxUGlyKzbwix4UMOMUVkKWhohztjROdcI0SZK1KA/s1600/Ralefatla+Site+Visit+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgQDJcrBy9PrBxqQ6njUyfFPj1UbKj8-nf_vvuQYuoW2RVyyhd46qYIN-ZdfpLDKgkoKKc8E1ggv_ukxL_2tUmgyeRcFlCK2R4rFHxUGlyKzbwix4UMOMUVkKWhohztjROdcI0SZK1KA/s1600/Ralefatla+Site+Visit+5.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local Bo'M'e making the journey with their children to one of the rural health clinics. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12505024466676978658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-55363272345427919192014-10-16T03:43:00.000-07:002014-10-16T03:58:55.306-07:00Pledge Your Birthday<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Birthdays can be a nightmare.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The incessant WhatsApps, emails and calls asking what you want for your big day? What on earth do you ask for when you've everything you could possibly need? </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1HDvzJ5wlH8HqCEeJga93ASohCQRUlamyxJQMvPOWnIvTNfKr0Jl9mvDLwc1jLUtYnGZgyjQvq55uHqEDXbxgUx4lfP26wBRPiqjiCxmyub-ab3CV7omk7-5SXZe_lsms4JjxFJbPe2p/s1600/pledgemybday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1HDvzJ5wlH8HqCEeJga93ASohCQRUlamyxJQMvPOWnIvTNfKr0Jl9mvDLwc1jLUtYnGZgyjQvq55uHqEDXbxgUx4lfP26wBRPiqjiCxmyub-ab3CV7omk7-5SXZe_lsms4JjxFJbPe2p/s1600/pledgemybday.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>Our newest volunteer, Ntate Thabo, has come up with an incredibly awesome, generous and selfless answer! He's decided to <a href="http://www.givengain.com/activist/127905/projects/9405/">pledge his birthday to Touching Tiny Lives</a>! Instead of asking for gifts from his family and friends, he has asked that they donate the money directly to TTL! </strong></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>It got us thinking, 'What if other people could do the same?' If you have a birthday coming up, and can't think of anything you want, could YOU help us to mitigate the effects of HIV/AIDS in children under the age of 5 in rural Lesotho?</strong></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What does it mean to pledge your birthday</strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">? Ask all your family and friends to donate the money they would have spent on a gift/ birthday drinks to us via </span><a _mce_href="https://www.givengain.com/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=donate&cause_id=5800" href="https://www.givengain.com/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=donate&cause_id=5800" style="color: #336699; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-decoration: none;">this link</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. You can either choose to </span><a _mce_href="https://www.givengain.com/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=login&fundraise=15130" href="https://www.givengain.com/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=login&fundraise=15130" style="color: #336699; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-decoration: none;">set up your own fundraising account</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, specifically for this campaign, OR you can ask them to simply </span><a _mce_href="https://www.givengain.com/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=donate&cause_id=5800" href="https://www.givengain.com/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=donate&cause_id=5800" style="color: #336699; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-decoration: none;">DONATE</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and select the Pledge Your Birthday project.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>Why us</strong>? Why Touching Tiny Lives? Let me explain our story and why we desperately need your help. We work in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, the land where 1/4 of the population are without work and a further 1/4 of the population have HIV or AIDS. Children are born facing life-threatening challenges from day 1. TTL started ten years ago in response to the crisis of children dying of malnutrition before their first birthday. We work within our limits to rescue <strong>one child at a time</strong> from the clutch of malnutrition and to face a brighter future. We are the only organisation serving a population of 230,000 people to mitigate the effects of HIV/AIDS in children under the age of 5. Mothers, Grandmas and Fathers walk and ride their horses for miles to reach out to us. There are few paved roads and so they are travelling across very mountainous and tough terrain. If their child is critically malnourished, we take them into the Safe Home and care for them until they are well enough to return home. We then continue our support through the Outreach team. These guys are my heroes. They drive for hours and hours every day up mountains and over ridges to deliver food packages and provide medical, nutritional & development support to families who struggle to put food on the table.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzHneM1SyM34juYQs5YjIJwYUdqtGJ5Pw2_qrDuitKWkfssP9LR-vN-sYtPAVijJf7At8wsEcQagyfgdlPpjg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Without TTL, there would be no focused help. Without TTL, these children would have no future. Watch the video below or click here to read their stories and decide whether you can donate your gift this one year and help us continue to support children of their community,<strong><a href="http://www.ttl-lesotho.org/">one child at a time.</a></strong></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>How does it work</strong>? Ask people to send what they would normally spend on a gift to TTL using GivenGain! It’s best to start fundraising a few months prior to your birthday to get the ball rolling. First and foremost, give your TTL fundraising page a catchy title, for example ” £8 for my 8th Birthday!” Include your reason for pledging your birthday and maybe even a photo. Once your page is up and running, email a link to your friends and family, inviting them to donate to your page. Don’t forget to reach out to your social media network as well. Keep your donors updated about your fundraising total up until the big day and then do one last push. People will give whatever they can give and 100% of it will go directly to helping us to support more children, one child at a time. </span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, if you can, please do this to help us to continue making a difference in one of the poorest regions in the world.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and good luck with your fundraising!</span></div>
Hdoughty3http://www.blogger.com/profile/07917390407648869900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-30479549480500676052014-10-06T01:35:00.001-07:002014-10-06T01:35:51.582-07:00Independence Day<b>Good Riddance, Brits!</b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">October 4th has come around again, bringing with it Besotho celebrations of independence from the British! </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Formerly Basutoland, the Kingdom of Lesotho had been a British colony for almost 100 years before it was finally granted its independence on October 4th, 1966. A huge cause for celebration. the Besotho celebrate with style across the kingdom, and this year was no different!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SfEAzF2Cbaw/VDJRwcnOd6I/AAAAAAAAAB4/z0uhjuOu_qk/s1600/Lesotho_independence_day.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SfEAzF2Cbaw/VDJRwcnOd6I/AAAAAAAAAB4/z0uhjuOu_qk/s1600/Lesotho_independence_day.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Independence Day celebrations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">People from all over dress up in the colours representing their district and traditional songs and dances are performed throughout the day. The members of the royal family of Lesotho together with the Prime Minister and his Cabinet ministers, Heads of Diplomatic Missions, Senior Government Officials and delegates from other countries within the South African Development Community region all come to participate in the Independence Day celebrations. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>A Bit Of History</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Once upon a time, Basutoland was a united country and free from foreign influence and rule. King Moshoeshoe I had unified the country into one single territory by bringing together various Sotho groups who had fled the wandering Zulus. However, it all went to pot in the 1830s when white settlers called Afrikaners, or Boers, began to encroach on Moshoeshoe's territory, Numerous border skirmishes ensued as the Basotho fought off these unwelcome settlers. Moshoeshoe lost some of his land in the 30 years of fighting between his forces and those of the Afrikaners. He had few options ahead of him and so he decided to ask the British for help in 1868, which led Britain to make Basutoland a protectorate. Moshoeshoe passed away in 1870 which is where the story gets a bit more tricky and complicated. With Moshoeshoe's death, Basutoland was places under the control of the Cape Colony in 1871. Britain resumed direct control in 1884 after a war erupted between the government of Cape Colony and the Besotho. In 1910, the Cape Colony and other British colonies united to form the Union of South Africa (which we now know as the Republic of South Africa.) According to British history books, the British government was under the impression that Basutoland would eventually be incorporated into South Africa. However, this idea was thwarted as the Basutho consistently refused to integrate. Long story short, the Basutho eventually achieved their independence from the British in 1966 after 50 years of asking the British for internal self-government. Better late than never!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #2d73b9; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26.5599994659424px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #2d73b9; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26.5599994659424px;"><br /></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-38293311015268365692014-09-24T07:01:00.001-07:002014-09-24T23:11:47.129-07:00Evacuation and ELMA Conference<b>What a month, Lesotho!</b><br />
<br />
Where to begin? Perhaps the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/01/lesotho-tom-thabane-south-africa">alleged political coup</a> or the Prime Minister flitting to and from South Africa like he's running a relay race or the renegade General-Lieutenant refusing to accept his dismissal or the full scale evacuation of American residents/ American Peace Corps and TTLF's Fellows from Lesotho! Phew. Not your average run-of-the-mill month!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1dy-xIGVHSI/VCJxFw1XsiI/AAAAAAAAABU/PZZRzScrHZQ/s1600/2014-09-19%2B08.14.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1dy-xIGVHSI/VCJxFw1XsiI/AAAAAAAAABU/PZZRzScrHZQ/s1600/2014-09-19%2B08.14.56.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><b>Political Headache</b><br />
<br />
Politically, things remain as uncertain here as they did at the beginning of the month. Who knows what is really going on! Nobody seems to know. Parliament remains closed, despite promises to reopen it last week, and the political elite remain very disgruntled. However it doesn't seemed to have affected the public much. At the very least, it hasn't really affected us here in Mokhotlong so we've carried on business as usual. The fellows are now back in country and very pleased to be home. Mokhotlong has bloomed into Spring: the peach blossom decorates the mountains and the temperature has soared to a very warm 80-85F. It is a beautiful time of year here and we hope that the ugliness of political instability will keep away from us in our Mountainous haven.<br />
.<br />
<b>ELMA Relief</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pk3lhRBb3Y0/VCK_g_l7ALI/AAAAAAAAABk/Wf6FKtiobn4/s1600/IMG-20140917-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pk3lhRBb3Y0/VCK_g_l7ALI/AAAAAAAAABk/Wf6FKtiobn4/s1600/IMG-20140917-WA0000.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
'M'e Nthabeleng (Managing Director of TTL) joined the exiled Fellows in Johannesburg last week for a conference hosted by ELMA Philanthropies. It was absolutely wonderful, on so many levels, which makes it hard to condense what we learned into one blog. Let's just say that we each came away empowered, inspired, motivated and chomping at the bit to implement some of our new skills at TTL! The focus of the conference was 'Resource Mobilisation' or, in layman's terms, fundraising and organisation growth. We learned about the importance of financial sustainability, community involvement and multi-partnership to the success of any organisation. We met so many other NGOs/NFPs/charities from across Southern Africa during the conference. It was very reassuring to learn that the challenges we face are not unique to TTL. Almost every other organisation is at a different stage of dealing with the very same issues. Those who have overcome the same challenges we experience on a day to day basis inspiring and have given us a lot of hope for the future! We want to thank you ELMA Philanthropies for hosting such a wonderful workshop and networking event. We look forward to the next annual meeting!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-47093004685335386652014-09-04T05:59:00.002-07:002014-09-04T10:13:12.552-07:00Military coup in Lesotho? What on earth is going on?<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s not often that Lesotho makes it to the international
news scene. Not until now that is. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0-av4FUGXh0H5YOwianFdk-3H6tQHdyMQsMdNZOlFP3V9ORI6Pkzzm26HV5oUpn38Dt-KD6hBqRcdj0T_IIpJ-W7JKuaEImz0USpDZGjnluuRmvPGA_FU1jNzte42639WoleeAQU68c1/s1600/185-14Jbcv.St.55.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0-av4FUGXh0H5YOwianFdk-3H6tQHdyMQsMdNZOlFP3V9ORI6Pkzzm26HV5oUpn38Dt-KD6hBqRcdj0T_IIpJ-W7JKuaEImz0USpDZGjnluuRmvPGA_FU1jNzte42639WoleeAQU68c1/s1600/185-14Jbcv.St.55.jpeg" height="228" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;">Street vendor sells newspapers headlined<br /> "Lesotho in turmoil coup attempt" in Maseru, Lesotho.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; height: 1px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: left; width: 1px;">
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/09/02/6084002/police-abandon-posts-in-lesotho.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last weekend the political situation in Lesotho descended into a state of turmoil that some are calling a military coup. Political grievances have been bubbling away in the capital city Maseru for months due to a disgruntled three-way coalition government, but those grievances all came to a head on Saturday.<br />
<br />
In the past week, the Prime Minister fled the
country, police services have been suspended, radio stations corrupted, and news reports contradictory. Some foreign embassies are evacuating citizens and many more have issued a red flag. But who knows what is really happening!<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiln2z7uKeFnMAtWH-IVDfLPq4FEGCY3RL1Uyk8hHqT3SZpm3SlOWBy3t48BMI1xUku8LZ28BRERXFMomuSyJPRwJ3pZHaM1VVavWK8Iu8AayMtLTkZgbF6meqPp9dyMsRiivmuatUOpC89/s1600/412-12MK9V.St.55.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiln2z7uKeFnMAtWH-IVDfLPq4FEGCY3RL1Uyk8hHqT3SZpm3SlOWBy3t48BMI1xUku8LZ28BRERXFMomuSyJPRwJ3pZHaM1VVavWK8Iu8AayMtLTkZgbF6meqPp9dyMsRiivmuatUOpC89/s1600/412-12MK9V.St.55.jpeg" height="198" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Lesotho Defence Force member displays arms <br />confiscated from police at army barracks in Maseru.</span></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; height: 1px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: left; width: 1px;">
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/09/02/6084002/police-abandon-posts-in-lesotho.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Now, TTL is about 300km away from Maseru, tucked away
in the majestic Maluti mountains, so on the whole it's business as usual. All being well, this quarrel won’t reach us.
But the current state of affairs has made our Outreach visits a little more precarious and perilous.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>So, what’s the deal and how long will this go on (as far as
we understand it)?</b><br />
<br />
In June, Lesotho's Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Lesotho Congress for Democracy party (LCD)
Mothetjoa Metsing suddenly announced<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>that he would be removing his party from a
three-way political coalition that had brought Prime Minister Thomas Thabane to
power two-years ago. Thabane, in retaliation, suspended parliament and effectively avoided any vote of no-confidence that could threaten his leadership. South African President Jacob Zuma travelled to
Lesotho to host talks with the country’s leaders to find some middle ground; however, two months later it seems Zuma's talks did little to quell discontent.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
O<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">n Saturday 30th August, Basotho soldiers allegedly seized weapons from several police stations and surrounded Prime Minister Thabane's residence. One
police officer was killed in the ensuing struggle and several injured. <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.987144470214844px;">Thabane commands the loyalty of the police and Metsing has the support of the army, so </span>Thabane's supporters have accused Metsing of trying to overthrow him. The deputy
premier and the military have denied any coup attempt. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Government
spokesman Ramakhula Ramakhula says Thaban</span>e had sought a military intervention
by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Lesotho to restore
order. Apparently Metsing opposed the proposal, arguing there was "no
serious problem" in the southern African kingdom. Which man is telling the truth? You can see the confusion!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, things seem to be starting to improve. The Prime Minister, his deputy and the leader of the third coalition
party, Sports Minister Thesele Maseribane, released a statement on Tuesday to say
that they are "committed to working together" to restore stability. SADC
has also pledged to help the parties create a road map to reactivate
parliament. So, for now, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that good ol’
democracy will shine through and work.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Think of us and keep your fingers crossed that the quarrel is
settled soon and doesn’t reach us here in Mokhotlong & Thaba-Tseka!<o:p></o:p></div>
Hdoughty3http://www.blogger.com/profile/07917390407648869900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-72109622823504663482014-08-22T01:38:00.002-07:002014-08-22T01:38:29.189-07:00Importance of Staging HIVWhen it comes to HIV, the aim of the game is to beat the virus by identifying it, attacking it, containing it and stopping it from progressing to the next stage by prescribing the right ARVs. Whilst only a small percentage of our kiddos at TTL are HIV+, we need to be on the lookout for tell-tale signs that their ARV meds are not working and thus that their HIV is progressing to the next stage.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBb2rykgax9BLmyJGRL4kB-aFQFhFwt1Mw65j7L11phB06uESMLdvJPnrOuk56HoHpctlBYF5OPT_SV7KeFkj0tK-H_5T7umZ_XTuUl35M84qcF-YKhAy1IiBKsYDkrTcHVijIlW1tF7l/s1600/Baylor1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBb2rykgax9BLmyJGRL4kB-aFQFhFwt1Mw65j7L11phB06uESMLdvJPnrOuk56HoHpctlBYF5OPT_SV7KeFkj0tK-H_5T7umZ_XTuUl35M84qcF-YKhAy1IiBKsYDkrTcHVijIlW1tF7l/s1600/Baylor1.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baylor Clinic at Mokhotlong Hospital</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHw0tgpiXBeFbjZBErn5vO7nafN5nmqepX5SWWlwV9zfQLOQ3EUVaoDS-qsdQ8gtBoO4PiYruIbBxOzKkbAudS0m2r34URtuMYZsj_gHgnlJsVpyLfdWvsZX_qLEh2KZga-4JhYbEDlS77/s1600/DrDivinLecture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHw0tgpiXBeFbjZBErn5vO7nafN5nmqepX5SWWlwV9zfQLOQ3EUVaoDS-qsdQ8gtBoO4PiYruIbBxOzKkbAudS0m2r34URtuMYZsj_gHgnlJsVpyLfdWvsZX_qLEh2KZga-4JhYbEDlS77/s1600/DrDivinLecture1.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TTL staff in the Baylor waiting room <br />
for the lecture to begin!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is where the wonderful Dr Divin and his staff at Baylor Clinic at Mokhotlong Hospital come in. Dr Divin regularly holds lectures for TTL staff to keep us up to date on the latest treatments and research on HIV/AIDS and TB. We went to one of these special events on Tuesday 19th August and here is what we learned:<br />
<br />
So, in a very small nutshell, HIV attacks proteins in our body called CD4 and this makes the body incredibly susceptible to infection. If we are able to identify the virus at an early stage we could save our clients a lot of pain, hassle and extensive treatment. So, what are these different stages and what do we need to look out for?:<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>STAGE I</b> This is a tough one to catch as there are hardly any symptoms. But if you have a constant cold <br />
or swollen lumps on the face and groin then get the kid to a doc to get checked out!<br />
<br />
<b>STAGE II</b> A tad easier to notice. It normally affects the upper respiratory system and skin. So you need to<br />
look out for sinus issues, easy bleeding, abnormal skin rashes or pox and big old swellings <br />
on the face and groin. We've posted some pics of common HIV Stage II-related skin <br />
problems.<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>WARNING- They ain't pretty!</i></b></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPxVCbVqkmpZ2tiuRdZT9XivIJNoac9b8ENLHV4ij8UjX7fjeUIBRp8NbJZEyUgVSqTaB3b_9t0Dr3T1zHWJDBWr6EaaaJF1d6dCq83QmXJdft3dCGr5nHn5ewcN82vw2G0VGKeo5rsSm/s1600/PPE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPxVCbVqkmpZ2tiuRdZT9XivIJNoac9b8ENLHV4ij8UjX7fjeUIBRp8NbJZEyUgVSqTaB3b_9t0Dr3T1zHWJDBWr6EaaaJF1d6dCq83QmXJdft3dCGr5nHn5ewcN82vw2G0VGKeo5rsSm/s1600/PPE.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PPE- one of the Stage II skin infections.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>STAGE III</b>- This is where the virus starts to attack the poor lungs. We're talking Pulmonary TB, unexplained anaemia, moderate malnutrition, bacterial pneumonia and oral candidiasis. Don't know what oral candidiasis is? Look below for a lovely photo of how it affects the body..you're welcome. <br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNGZ5nRfiZ5TRWe9FaccmUMNJIsAOzqvn8VrPme8tIBWm8xdz3j7eehJuo8COkNRu9fitLGa6VtSCpgPkPsLs6JtIj1cGlwziu7qxE5AfbHk61uZj6Ceiil8TAkxi4929WGmr9J7HQECZ/s1600/CandidiasisTongue2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNGZ5nRfiZ5TRWe9FaccmUMNJIsAOzqvn8VrPme8tIBWm8xdz3j7eehJuo8COkNRu9fitLGa6VtSCpgPkPsLs6JtIj1cGlwziu7qxE5AfbHk61uZj6Ceiil8TAkxi4929WGmr9J7HQECZ/s1600/CandidiasisTongue2.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oral Candidiasis- Stage III symptoms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>STAGE IV</b>- We don't want to see this stage of the virus as it only means bad news. Bad news for the lungs, skin, eyes, blood. Bad news all over. Full blown TB, Meningitis, blindness in the eye, sores all over the body. You name it, this stage brings it.<br />
<br />
This is why staging is so important. Like us against the virus in a game, we we want to stop it from getting to the final stage. If we can do that we can save ourselves a whole lot of hassle and time in a hospital.<br />
<br />
Now, we are by no means clinicians. We would never presume to know how to diagnose a kid with HIV. However, if we notice these signs in any of our clients we now know to get them to a doctor as soon as possible.<br />
<br />
We want to thank Dr Divin and his colleagues for their engaging and interactive lecture and we look forward to the next!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Hdoughty3http://www.blogger.com/profile/07917390407648869900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-75073912476894311322014-08-13T23:11:00.001-07:002014-08-13T23:11:30.339-07:00The Brit arrives in Mokhotlong!<div class="MsoNormal">
Greetings from the gorgeously sunny Mokhotlong!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is just a quick blog to introduce myself as TTLF’s
newest fellow here in Lesotho. My name is Harriet Doughty and I’m an
International Relations graduate from the UK. I studied in London for my BA but
moved to The Hague, NL, to do my Master’s where I was predictably pulled into a world of
international politics, food security and international aid.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fTENdyRviCI/U-t310NFX7I/AAAAAAAAAAM/13k6mqXv6jw/s1600/IMG-20140813-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fTENdyRviCI/U-t310NFX7I/AAAAAAAAAAM/13k6mqXv6jw/s1600/IMG-20140813-WA0000.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Brit touches down on TTL Campus!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I kept myself busy during my studies by working on a few projects. One was to help organise events, lectures and conferences hosted by Dutch Foreign Office, the UN, European External Action Services and Hague-based
NGOs. I learned a lot from this experience and I look forward to applying that
knowledge to supporting TTLF this year. The second project was to continue building and developing a Non-Profit I had helped to start in 2008 in a Peruvian
prison. I was only 18 when we started the project so, as you can imagine, I met a lot of seemingly insurmountable challenges in attempting to start her up. It required a lot of (hastily-learned) skill in project
management, communications, fundraising and income generating. But with a bit of time, help from good ol' Google and help from friends we got
Maki International up and running and we now support almost 200 prisoners and their families through sustainable education and rehabilitation programmes. I'm excited
to use this work experience to boost TTL’s online presence and to develop their income generating prospects.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j89pDJv7QoQ/U-t4IGop-HI/AAAAAAAAAAU/I4jl4985fg0/s1600/10593251_770152826340594_904670379_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j89pDJv7QoQ/U-t4IGop-HI/AAAAAAAAAAU/I4jl4985fg0/s1600/10593251_770152826340594_904670379_n.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day in the Safe Home</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm really looking forward to this year and I'm so chuffed that
everybody here is so friendly and generous!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hope to hear from you all as
the year goes on!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Warmest wishes,<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Harriet<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-86568707653707953822014-08-11T02:23:00.001-07:002014-08-11T02:59:56.462-07:00It takes a village <style id="dynCom" type="text/css"><!-- --></style>
<br />
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoCommentText, li.MsoCommentText, div.MsoCommentText
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Comment Text Char";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
span.MsoCommentReference
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-ansi-font-size:9.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;}
span.CommentTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Comment Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:"Comment Text";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe7Uk3cjtRHF6YiH9aqXK9PTxsE23uRYcjrq0942zfAys9-7hY3JjnG9CuOYoRhN9XKSb3YkLLgM9ecT23QN36kGclhcw2pEhPsOkZKWU252pDOSTQ0RZ8xqrSurrJdLOcWXa28zQ6Jg/s1600/photo+1(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe7Uk3cjtRHF6YiH9aqXK9PTxsE23uRYcjrq0942zfAys9-7hY3JjnG9CuOYoRhN9XKSb3YkLLgM9ecT23QN36kGclhcw2pEhPsOkZKWU252pDOSTQ0RZ8xqrSurrJdLOcWXa28zQ6Jg/s1600/photo+1(2).JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VHWs at the Manemaneng Clinic greet TTL staff with song and dance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">An important role for any NGO is to
strengthen their collaborations with local partners. TTL maintains partnerships
with several different community groups, including hospital and clinic staff,
local government officials, and other NGO staff. One of our most important
partnerships is with the <a href="http://ttl-lesotho.org/" style="mso-comment-date: 20140808T2225; mso-comment-reference: BD_1;" target="_blank">Village Health Workers </a>(VHWs)
who serve their home communities in rural and hard-to-reach areas across
Lesotho. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">VHWs act as the first points of
contact for those whose access to health services can be challenged by remote
locations and costs associated with transportation. In an effort to provide rural
children and families with frontline health service, the Government of Lesotho
has recruited a dedicated group of volunteers to provide health information and
service recommendations for rural communities. VHWs are trained to recognize
signs and symptoms of various common medical conditions, to counsel mothers on
options to maximize healthy and safe pregnancies and deliveries, to monitor the
health status of adult and child community members and to provide health
service recommendations, based on level of severity, including urgent or
non-urgent referrals to the local hospital or clinic. These Basotho men and
women recognize the fundamental right of every person to access health care and
health education, and they provide this service without compensation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoCommentText">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">TTL supports the enormous efforts of the VHWs by
providing monthly training sessions in alternating clinic catchment areas around
Mokhotlong and Thaba-Tseka districts. By sharing critical health knowledge with
the VHWs, TTL encourages them to react confidently and appropriately when
consulted on child health situations in their communities. With an expanded
knowledge base, VHWs can provide an enhanced level of care and identify health
complications before they become acutely problematic.</span></div>
<div class="MsoCommentText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 64.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcs8Y3m_Bl-rPOSnOFLxTr64Wsg6Wda26C1mzg1m_1y5qmyaE-NUyXapkcdl7livnKt8-pC2pJS6I4xrJ07xy3qJRW3peatPy2mzGYdVVS3CW_j9lkypfN9Csflupk-ChYbTux2ikVt44/s1600/IMG_0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcs8Y3m_Bl-rPOSnOFLxTr64Wsg6Wda26C1mzg1m_1y5qmyaE-NUyXapkcdl7livnKt8-pC2pJS6I4xrJ07xy3qJRW3peatPy2mzGYdVVS3CW_j9lkypfN9Csflupk-ChYbTux2ikVt44/s1600/IMG_0180.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TTL Outreach worker M'e Mamosa introduces the training topics to the VHWs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In July, a TTL-run VHW training
took one TTL Outreach staff member, the TTL Managing Director, and a <a href="http://blog.touchingtinylives.org/2014/06/a-new-ttl-fellow-arrives.html" style="mso-comment-date: 20140808T2227; mso-comment-reference: BD_2;" target="_blank">TTLF Fellow </a><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a class="msocomanchor" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1365008801304613453#_msocom_2" id="_anchor_2" name="_msoanchor_2"></a><span style="mso-special-character: comment;"> </span></span></span>out
to Manemaneng Health Clinic, about 2 hours away from the TTL campus. A group of
almost 50 VHWs walked from areas near and far to attend and welcomed TTL with
song. They then turned their attention to ‘M’e Mamosa, who explained in detail how
to recognize the signs and symptoms of acute malnutrition in children under
five. This training expanded on the one held in June for identifying acute
childhood malnutrition by assessing anthropometric measurements using tools
such as weighing scales, length boards, and MUAC tapes to measure Mid Upper Arm
Circumference. The attendees were engaged participants and glad to part with
improved knowledge and skill for taking on the task of preventing and
monitoring acute malnutrition. Supporting the health of an individual child is
not a job for the family alone - it really does take a village.</span></div>
<div style="mso-element: comment-list;">
<hr align="left" class="msocomoff" size="1" width="33%" />
<div style="mso-element: comment;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8t_eapZXwXFm5Coj8XanTEghcVsYDk9uywkHVeWrlX6_W0VuYjXrFVD-fgnxgQ-2ItH8lBFVxpjFgAltY0tp5pB_M1qjyIhixU1wjGkfAmKgWxaioV59tes34TyrIkmQUhNL3JsWsVqw/s1600/IMG_0162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8t_eapZXwXFm5Coj8XanTEghcVsYDk9uywkHVeWrlX6_W0VuYjXrFVD-fgnxgQ-2ItH8lBFVxpjFgAltY0tp5pB_M1qjyIhixU1wjGkfAmKgWxaioV59tes34TyrIkmQUhNL3JsWsVqw/s1600/IMG_0162.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TTL Managing Director 'M'e Nthabeleng Lephoto welcomes the crowd. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_1">
<span style="mso-comment-author: "Becky Dale";"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1365008801304613453" name="_msocom_1"></a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="mso-element: comment;">
<div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_2">
<span style="mso-comment-author: "Becky Dale";"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1365008801304613453" name="_msocom_2"></a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12505024466676978658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-66453987240261986482014-08-04T07:46:00.000-07:002014-08-04T07:46:04.845-07:00Champions of Change<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><i style="background-color: white; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">In this update blog, Gargi pulls from her final project report to explain many of the new alterations to the Safe Home and Outreach programs. You can read about some of the initial developments in <a href="http://blog.touchingtinylives.org/2014/07/appetite-to-grow-faster-better-stronger.html" target="_blank">her first guest post</a>.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The past month at TTL was all about changes. <i>Target, Train, Track, Test</i> - the <i>4 T's</i> and public health mantra for implementing change - helped guide the recent programmatic developments. Of course, changes are not always welcome, but the case is different for TTL where staff welcome changes in the best interest of the children they serve. If public health experts have their <i>4 Ts</i>, then TTL has its 4 Cs: C<i>are, Connect, Change, Champion</i>. We witnessed all of these in recent weeks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Improving nutrition in the Safe Home</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF14Kz_fs9YFCBEd95ryuOFQE_Zla-uakwxKjUEno-woV0BP2SqY6A1UZaWQDYRGsDqSHvBqr5mfK2qech96FxzCWfLhyphenhyphenMaJedeY5GUjaGJcmc7pNCpYe89M1-wDxP8Ye-sBRUdIZttTPZ/s1600/IMG_0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF14Kz_fs9YFCBEd95ryuOFQE_Zla-uakwxKjUEno-woV0BP2SqY6A1UZaWQDYRGsDqSHvBqr5mfK2qech96FxzCWfLhyphenhyphenMaJedeY5GUjaGJcmc7pNCpYe89M1-wDxP8Ye-sBRUdIZttTPZ/s1600/IMG_0011.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a>Often the only
sign of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children is appetite loss or reduction.
Their shrinking bodies experience a disruption in metabolism that interferes
with their appetite, which may lead to further starvation and death.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, appetite loss is easy to identify. All it
takes is a spoonful of peanut butter and a little patience. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Using this basic appetite test, if the child eats a ‘good’ amount of peanut butter he or she passes the test and can be fed normally in the Safe Home. A failed appetite test indicates a need for more intensive medical therapy before 'food therapy,' and the child goes to the District Hospital with convincing evidence of metabolic distress. There he or she can receive appropriate medical support before returning to the Safe Home for round-the-clock care.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.ttl-lesotho.org/?page_id=10" target="_blank">Safe Home</a> Supervisor implemented this appetite last month and now uses it diligently for all incoming clients.<br />
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Focusing on growth and development</span></h3>
<div>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">As TTL staff had already received nutrition
training, we determined which areas needed strengthening based on a role-specific assessment. From their responses, <a href="http://www.ttl-lesotho.org/?page_id=6" target="_blank">Outreach</a>
staff were trained on using aids to counsel caregivers on child growth and
development, and the Safe Home staff were introduced to an enhanced monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system for recording food intake and health danger signs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>In the Outreach training</b> we emphasized educating caregivers on the developmental milestones of child growth. With the help of counseling cards, Outreach staff learned to help caregivers assess whether their child’s
development was on track and to provide examples of activities
that support age-specific development. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju26vVewDRK-YcFng5S1jWa9SM9MCucwCPVEsX5kt9PTku1IZZVsjLrNnpfmFNGt5pmIdesCnpG2J4BR9GMVKDIBdHMDhSPrcKKGGJwzr4zNFtRdI9HpxDrC1CE7tuISE_URu9yUAR08VB/s1600/GM+training.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju26vVewDRK-YcFng5S1jWa9SM9MCucwCPVEsX5kt9PTku1IZZVsjLrNnpfmFNGt5pmIdesCnpG2J4BR9GMVKDIBdHMDhSPrcKKGGJwzr4zNFtRdI9HpxDrC1CE7tuISE_URu9yUAR08VB/s1600/GM+training.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US">Similarly, for tracking Outreach client growth we introduced
growth monitoring charts to plot the child's weight each month. The charts show the client's trajectory of growth over time and allow comparison against a normal growth curve. </span>One Outreach worker also suggested pinning the growth charts on the walls of each client’s house so that caregivers could compare ‘how their child <b><i>is growing</i></b>’ to ‘how their child <b><i>should grow.</i></b>’<br />
<br />
Everyone agreed that instead
of discussing weights in arbitrary numbers, a visual aid (with spikes, plateaus, and dips in the child's weight) would aid discussion to identify episodes of illness or
other reasons for the lack of weight gain. TTL staff could then tailor their counseling
to address specific issues - whether diarrhea management, using TTL food
parcels for optimum child feeding, or the importance of hygiene & sanitation.
Eager to use the
growth charts, some Outreach staff have started plotting weights of children in the Safe Home and are practicing their counseling skills on the Safe Home
caregivers!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>For the Safe Home training</b> we took a
slightly different approach. With the help of two Sesotho-speaking interns, we conducted a quick survey among the 13 caregivers to understand the difficulty and amount of time
spent on record-keeping during day and night shifts. Overall, w</span>e found that Safe Home
caregivers understood the importance of record-keeping and did not find it burdensome. They all reported that
maintaining daily records, whether it was detailed observations of a client's behavior or noting every time a diaper was changed, was easy. The only time-consuming
or difficult activities were feeding fussy eaters or attending the doctor’s
questions during health check-ups. (Of course the favorite activity was playing with the kids!) Encouraged by the survey results, we then piloted new M&E forms to monitor individual food intake and health danger signs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5lhyphenhyphengf1NDZkURpqyW_1hZt9oroDmHIPs1lP8g1drZ3A25HoqOCu9j0zjOBwe3X5oBtgAas6FCkpJzpPqS5VDZGWMNEAYrcidD9wpunoonKoneoTY1NKkt2uMdIGigS0RTqtInI3RYxaO/s1600/pilot+run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5lhyphenhyphengf1NDZkURpqyW_1hZt9oroDmHIPs1lP8g1drZ3A25HoqOCu9j0zjOBwe3X5oBtgAas6FCkpJzpPqS5VDZGWMNEAYrcidD9wpunoonKoneoTY1NKkt2uMdIGigS0RTqtInI3RYxaO/s1600/pilot+run.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
In their monthly meeting, the caregivers discussed activities that some of them found difficult: for example, strategies to feed fussy eaters and time management tips to avoid wasteful activities. During this peer learning exercise, we oriented them to the new forms, which contain additional monitoring steps to provide more expert support to the Safe Home clients. The caregivers have already started charting
individual food intake and health parameters flawlessly! They even reported that they now feel as knowledgeable as
the hospital nurses. And should any problems arise, they know they can just ask each other for help.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Guest post by Gargi Wable, Nutrition Consultant for TTLF, who recently finished up work for a TTL grant from UNICEF.</i></div>
Becky Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590983019732026877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365008801304613453.post-50346048630506599322014-07-28T01:58:00.000-07:002014-07-28T02:35:39.625-07:00Commonwealth Games 2014<div class="MsoNormal">
The 2014 <a href="http://www.glasgow2014.com/" target="_blank">Commonwealth Games</a> are happening right
now in Glasgow, Scotland!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/image/1276696/1406019703000/large16x9/768/432/big-g-glasgow.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This is a pretty exciting time for
everyone with a vested interest in Commonwealth nations as they watch the different
countries compete for prestigious medals and prizes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">But you might find yourself wondering about
a thing or two. For instance: ‘What exactly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i>
the Commonwealth Games?’ or ‘What do these games have to do with TTL?’ </span>Valid questions, to be sure. So to help
ease your mind, we’ve compiled a short Q&A below!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US"><u>1) What is the Commonwealth?</u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thehungerproject.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Commonwealth-Logo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thehungerproject.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Commonwealth-Logo.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">According to its <a href="http://thecommonwealth.org/sites/default/files/page/documents/CharteroftheCommonwealth.pdf" target="_blank">founding Charter</a>, the
Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 53 independent and equal
sovereign member states that collaborate through economic support and political
strengthening to champion several key values, including: democracy, human
rights, international peace and security, and more. Read the <a href="http://thecommonwealth.org/sites/default/files/page/documents/CharteroftheCommonwealth.pdf" target="_blank">full charter here</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Moreover, all the participating
Commonwealth nations share a certain degree of common colonial past with the
United Kingdom, whose reigning monarch is currently their official head of
state or perhaps was at one time. Today Queen Elizabeth II is recognised as the
head of the Commonwealth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US"><b><u>2) What are the Commonwealth
Games?</u></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In 1891, an Englishman named Sir John Astley
Cooper proposed a “Pan-Britannic-Pan-Anglican Contest and Festival…as a means
of increasing goodwill and good understanding of the British Empire” – which it
was at that time. The idea took a few years to organise, but since their
initial round in 1930, the international athletic competitions now called the ‘Commonwealth
Games’ have been held every four years (think British Olympics).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -24px;">The events have expanded and changed over
time, but the Games currently boast 21 able-body sports and 7 para-sports,
which the host country sets with official approval from the Commonwealth Games
Federation. The <a href="http://www.glasgow2014.com/" target="_blank">2014 Glasgow Games</a> include: </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling (Mountain Bike, Road, and Track), Diving, Gymnastics (Artistic and Rhythmic), Hockey, Judo, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Powerlifting, Rugby Sevens, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Weightlifting, and Wrestling.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US"><u>3) How is Lesotho involved?</u></span></b><br />
<div>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Wouldn’t you know it – <a href="http://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/lesotho" target="_blank">Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth</a>, having joined in 1966.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Since 1974, Lesotho has attended the Commonwealth Games
and sends most of its competitors to the running events (where their successes are no
doubt a result of high-altitude training). For the 2014 Games, 27 athletes <a href="http://www.wales.com/en/content/cms/Blog/Lesotho250214/Lesotho250214.aspx" target="_blank">traveled to Wales</a> where they trained and prepared to represent the
Mountain Kingdom. Most of their events are scheduled for this week, so tune in to
cheer them on with Basotho pride!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US"><b><u>4) What else do I need to
know?</u></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Like many friendly competitions, the
Commonwealth Games are an opportunity for the host city to put forth its best
face and exhibit its unique history and amusing quirks. Certainly, Glasgow is
not short of quirks, nor shy about celebrating them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/5619620-3x2-700x467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/5619620-3x2-700x467.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing Tunnock's Tea Cakes (a half-biscuit, half-marshmallow, non-dancing Scottish treat)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2014/07/24/1226999/556220-0e70a6c2-12ac-11e4-ac8c-9d9015e889ea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2014/07/24/1226999/556220-0e70a6c2-12ac-11e4-ac8c-9d9015e889ea.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fabled Loch Ness Monster herself in tartan (plaid)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But Lesotho has its own claims to fame, some of which the Basotho athletes flaunted when parading in the opening ceremony.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/76501000/jpg/_76501088_lesothoafp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/76501000/jpg/_76501088_lesothoafp.jpg" height="432" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">For instance, the conical shape of the <i>mokorotlo</i>, or Basotho hat, is inspired by Mount Qiloane, one of the peaks in
the Maluti Mountain range that give Lesotho its harsh climate – thereby
justifying those beautiful Basotho blankets – and unique status as the country
with the highest low point in the world: 1400m!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And because Lesotho is not lined up to host the
Commonwealth games in the near future, we thought we’d highlight some other Basotho trivia worthy of your attention:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Lesotho is a land-locked nation
and the only one in the world that is completely surrounded by one other
country – South Africa</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The most common mode of
transportation is horseback</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The country motto is ‘</span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Khotso, Pula, Nala’</i><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">meaning ‘Peace, Rain, Prosperity’ and respectively represented by
the white, blue, and green of the Basotho flag (which also features the
indigenous Basotho hat.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Lesotho is home to one of the
only two ski resorts in Sub-Saharan Africa. #AfriSkiFTW</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Lesotho has its own dinosaur –
the Lesothosaurus discovered in 1978 by Peter Galton</span></li>
</ol>
And now you know.</div>
Becky Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590983019732026877noreply@blogger.com5