Lesotho Child Counselling Unit
The LCCU is headed by a local leader in her community, Lydia Muso, who has worked for years, turning her home into a safe house for up to 15 abused children at any one time.
The Centre provides shelter, play therapy, educational support, medical attention and life skills training for often severely traumatised children, with help from local volunteers.
Children are usually referred here by the police and stay from one to 18 months. Help is given with reconciliation and reintegration into their families and communities after their court cases are settled.
Sentebale has supported the building of a new dedicated facility to help treatment and prevent child abuse. This building project was started with funds from the Firelight Foundation and The Standard Bank of Lesotho, who also continue to contribute to running costs. Volunteer architect, Pedro Clark from Architects for Aid, has led the way with the impressive building work.
This new building will offer a much needed 40 bed home for temporary safety for children who have been abused, and are referred by the police and Social Welfare. We are supporting recurring running costs for this, including management and training of new staff.
The new LCCU refuge will become the main centre for abused children in Lesotho. In addition to continued support of the refuge financially, Sentebale sits on the Board of Directors for the LCCU and is committed to continue working closely developing and supporting the work of the refuge.
Sentebale are developing national referral guidelines for chid abuse with the Department of Social Welfare and UNICEF; this will be the first time there is any referral system in place in Lesotho for child abuse. This will be linked to the new Children's Help Line launched in Lesotho in May 2008. This is an important step forward in tackling child abuse in Lesotho.
For the latest information on progress at the LCCU please go to our News section.
© Sentebale 2007
