Sister Gisele - Reitumetse Church Project
"These children have the same rights as others and I will always fight to make sure that they get what they deserve".
When Sister Gisele first came to Lesotho in 1963 as a nun with the Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary, it was to be the beginning of a life long relationship with Lesotho and its orphans and vulnerable children.
As she taught in a Mission, the full extent of the poverty that afflicted Lesotho soon became clear. "As I looked around me I realised how poor people were; they had no water, housing, food, nothing". It was this realisation that inspired Sister Gisele to make her life in Lesotho and work to make a difference.
She realised that access to clean water for communities was vital to improve living standards and so started work getting funding for the building of boreholes for villages. Today Sister Gisele has facilitated the building of around 2000 boreholes in villages around Lesotho, providing a lifeline of access to clean water for locals.
Over the years she has also supported the building of 172 houses for the destitute in villages; "building is a great way of helping people as it gives them a job to do while also providing a roof over their heads".
Through spending time in these villages, Sister Gisele saw the need to provide more help to Lesotho's orphans. "In the villages you see the misery of people, especially through the sickness of HIV/AIDs. So many people are dying that everyone is taking care of each others children and often they just can't cope and the parentless children become an impossible burden".
To meet this need Sister Gisele started a day care centre at the school where she taught, and eventually started her own school and children's centre, taking children with nowhere else to go into her full time care.
Today Sister Gisele cares for 62 girls, as well as a number of elderly in need of care, as part of the Reitumetse Church Project. Clothes, food, care and an education are provided for the children as well as plenty of love and attention.
"Caring for these children has become my life and fulfils me; they make me feel ten years younger. They are so lively that I have to keep up with them. Our community has become one big family".
Reitumetse is an enterprising and sustainable community. Local men work the fields to farm crops; there are pigs, chickens, cows and a vegetable patch as well as a bakery, all of which provide money and food for poor local families and the children - all masterminded and organised by Sister Gisele.
Fluent in Sesotho, Sister Gisele has created a familiar, safe and loving environment for the children to grow up in. The children are well protected here and, ever cautious, they are only ever allowed out in groups to avoid dangers like being snatched for child prostitution.
"These children have the same rights as others and I will always fight to make sure that they get what they deserve".
Read more about the Reitumetse Church Project.
Go to Elizabeth Hamilton, Director of Camp 'Mamohato Network
© Sentebale 2007
