News & Events

Welcome to Camp 'Mamohato.

Sentebale has hosted the second season of Camp 'Mamohato with two camps held in January. Both camps were a great success and they continue to be very popular with the children and a great help to them and their families. After five days of intensive training for 24 local staff members and two international volunteers, 72 children between the ages of 12 to 17 were welcomed to camp.

All of the campers were HIV positive patients on antiretroviral treatment (ART) from the Baylor College of Medicine Children's Foundation Lesotho, the Bophelong Paediatric Clinic at Queen Elizabeth II Hospital and the Karabong Clinic at Mafeteng Hospital.

Camper and Counsellor.

In a fun, engaging environment, the campers were educated about HIV, how it is transmitted, and the importance of adhering to antiretroviral drugs, sexual and reproductive health, hygiene and nutrition. The children were encouraged to express themselves and have fun, and the campers were taught important life skills needed to live emotionally and physically healthy lives.

Activities at camp include games, sports, arts, crafts and drama, and all focus on building positive characteristics and behaviour for the children, aimed at increasing the children's self-esteem, confidence and assertiveness.

Arts and Crafts.

The camp staff noticed a huge difference in the children between the beginning and end of camp. When the children arrived they were shy and withdrawn but over the course of camp, they transformed into confident, outgoing and happy children. One counsellor explained, 'We witnessed the children open up more and more each and every day of camp'.

The children and counsellors develop strong friendships, based on Camp 'Mamohato's core values: safety, love and respect. Through camp, even more children have joined the 'Mamohato network so will have an ongoing support group where HIV positive children can communicate openly with other children and adults and breaking the silence that surrounds HIV in Lesotho.

Plays are performed.

Since camp, these children have all been invited to attend regular Teen Club meetings where the communication, education, care and support that they received at camp will continue.

Camper comments:

'I liked camp because we learned many new things; we were taught to take our medication properly and what would happen if we didnt through drama'

'We were all so happy at camp'

'Camp taught me how to take care of myself and my health'

'I felt loved at camp as we shared problems with our counselors, laughed with them and played with them'