Lydia - Lesotho Child Counselling Unit
'Everywhere I looked there were abused, abandoned and neglected children. I had to do something to help'
A tireless and passionate campaigner for children's rights, Lydia Muso is the director of the Lesotho Child Counselling Unit (LCCU). After working for ten years in Sweden caring for children with social problems in a paediatric hospital, Lydia felt inspired to provide similar care for children in her own country - Lesotho.
Driven by the increasing number of orphans and abused children and the decimation of HIV/AIDS, Lydia was inspired to help. 'I thought I was being selfish to occupy my house alone, knowing that there were children out there in need of shelter, love, parental guidance and care; I decided to share my life with children in need'.
Lydia registered herself and her home as a charity for severely abused and traumatized children in 2001. With the able assistance of her childhood friend Mataboha, who had been working in children's rights in South Africa, she opened up her own two-roomed house as a refuge.
The first children in Lydia's care were siblings who had been raped by their father who had then tried to kill them and himself. They were soon followed by dozens of other children until her small house was over-flowing with bunks, mattresses, toys, food, schoolbooks and anything else she could get donated that might help the kids.
Ever since, and with the help and support of friends and relatives, Lydia has offered care, support and rehabilitation for as many children as she could fit into her house referred to her by the police.
'We have children here for six months to a year while we work on reuniting them with their family' says Lydia. Up to 20 children at a time are fed and housed, sent to school and counselled from the LCCU. Lydia and Mataboha have been doing this without pay for four years now.
Read More about Lydia's work and the latest News from her Child Counselling Unit.
© Sentebale 2007
