There are over 200,000 orphaned children live in Lesotho (of which 130,000 of them have lost one or both parents to AIDS) and live expectancy is just 54.33 years (2019) not helped by the fact that, despite its small population, Lesotho has the second highest HIV prevalence in the world with 25% of the population, one in four people in the country, living with HIV. Just as
disturbing, it is estimated that 12,000 children have the virus (not least
because 30% of boys report that they have had sex before the age of 15yrs
compared with 6% in developed countries) with many of them abandoned on the
streets by non-parental carers who hold a simple view that these children are
going to die anyway so why take on the financial burden of supporting them
through childhood.
Children in Lesotho have very poor life opportunities. Most have to walk two hours to
school and the same back, often arriving at school unable to concentrate due to
malnourishment. On their return from school many are required to look
after sick parents in addition to other chores such as collecting sticks for
firewood and replenishing water supplies. As these children grow up, doctors, teachers and other workers are dying
around them in great number from AIDS with no similarly 'skilled' workforce to
replace them. Child sponsor programs in Lesotho work with orphan and abandoned children, work to improve
access to water, education and healthcare alongside HIV awareness and prevention
programs. You can help when
your sponsor a child in Lesotho.
Child Sponsor Lesotho: SOS Children's Villages
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Child Sponsor Lesotho: Help Lesotho
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Child Sponsor Lesotho: Lesotho Children
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Child Sponsor Lesotho: Volunteer in Lesotho
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