Prince Harry's Story
“In 2004 I was 19 and went travelling in my Gap year. I had a fantastic time in Australia, Argentina and Botswana but in the end the thing that had the greatest impact on me was the 2 months I spent working in Lesotho.
I was lucky enough to have an amazing guide in Prince Seeiso. His knowledge and compassion for his country showed me that there could be a way of making a difference in Lesotho that would go far beyond the building projects I worked on.
I met so many children whose lives had been shattered following the death of their parents - they were so vulnerable and in need of care and attention.
Again and again as we travelled round Lesotho we saw the same thing: great work being done in the community by amazing volunteers who weren't able to attract support, because they didn't have professional managers or accountants to show where the money was going.
We arranged to make a documentary called 'The Forgotten Kingdom' to help highlight the issues we'd seen, but Prince Seeiso and I decided that the way we could make a difference long term was to start a charity that could direct funds to the grass roots organisations which were taking so much of the strain but finding it hard to get help.
We came up with the name Sentebale because we wanted one in Sesotho, the language of Lesotho, and the idea of 'forget me not' seemed perfect.
The charity is a way that both Prince Seeiso and I can remember our mothers who both worked with AIDs and orphaned children. I really feel that by doing this I can follow in my mother's footsteps and keep her legacy alive.
In 2007 we opened our office in Lesotho so that we can work directly with grass-roots organisations to transform the lives of children and young people.
Come back in 25 years and you will see how Sentebale has made a difference in Lesotho.”
Read more in Prince Harry's interview about the launch of Sentebale on 28th April, 2006.
Watch ITN: 'The Forgotten Kingdom - Prince Harry in Lesotho'
Go to Prince Seeiso's Story
© Sentebale 2011