Phelisanong Project
In the foothills of the Maluti mountains, Phelisanong is a remarkable community providing a home for 76 disabled children and those whose parents have died of AIDS. Founder 'Mamello Lehlotha has a wonderful strength of spirit, a sense of humor and a clear picture of what she wants to accomplish. Her motto is "nobody without testing, nobody without treatment". She has mobilized her community to address AIDS and the orphan crisis, and now delivers critical social services in her region.
Together with a committed group of disabled and HIV+ community members from the villageof Ha Makhata, 'Mamello has been working since 2001 to give a safe haven to the mentally and physically handicapped. The project has grown to embrace those living with AIDS offering education, counselling, testing and treatment, and support for those living with the disease and the orphans it has left behind.
The 'Phelisanong Disabled HIV/AIDS Orphans and Vulnerable Children Community Project' provides a resource centre for disabled adults and children, a primary school, several HIV/AIDS support groups, a farm, a pre-school, a handicraft cooperative and an outreach program that serves dozens of villages in the area.
Sentebale works closely with this organisation and have funded their administrative costs, as well as providing support and equipment including beds, mattresses, livestock, nappies and cleaning suppliers. We have also done health assessments for all of the children and provided them with nutritional supplements.
Read about the two new Classrooms we have installed at the school here.
© Sentebale 2011