NEF 2004 Annual Report - Near East Foundation

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Thirty-one percent of Lesotho’s productive population
—about 330,000 people between the ages of 15 and
49--is infected with the AIDS virus. That’s the fourth
highest prevalence rate in the world and the poorest
of the most affected countries. As the disease takes
its toll, an estimated 100,000-plus of Lesotho’s
children are orphaned, abandoned and at risk of
early death, malnutrition, disease, exploitation,
sexual abuse, other traumas and dire situations.
The New East Foundation is both addressing this
issue in the Mokhotlong District where we work—the
most remote and poorest area of the country; and
putting names and faces on these anonymous
numbers. Kids like four-month-old Hlompho and
Tumeliso, whose mothers were too sick and too sad
to care for them. And Hlompho’s brother, Thabang,
four or five, his true age unknown… And Rorisang who is being nurtured along with her very
young mother, still a student, because the grandmother is very sick and the family has no
money.
And Tiisetso, about one-and-a-half, who lived by himself most
of the time in a cold house, sometimes outside…even in the
rain. He arrived at NEF’s country director’s house hungry and
skinny and in two months has gained seven pounds and now
can stand by pulling on a chair. He also can breathe, his
pneumonia now gone. Hlompho too has gained weight and
his skin rashes are starting to clear.
Beyond providing individual children with emotional and
physical warmth, safety, rehabilitation from malnutrition and
sickness or care with terminal illness, reconnection with family
or caring adoptive homes, schooling and mentoring; the Near
East Foundation is combating the AIDS calamity with an
integrated and comprehensive approach that combines
health, agriculture, infrastructure development and more:
• home visits, village gatherings, volunteer training and selfhelp
groups for AIDS-affected children, their caregivers and others--teaching very practical