By Kefiloe Kajane
The Action Ireland Trust (AIT) in collaboration with the ministry of education and training and Rise International will build much needed running water toilets, school kitchens, rain water harvesting facilities and food gardens for five schools in the Lithabaneng area in Maseru.
AIT is an Irish charity organisation that provides skills exchange programmes in education, healthcare information technology, planning and development, architecture, construction, agriculture and sports and recreation.
Rise international is a non-profit social enterprise, working towards a world where sustainable social enterprise, created by local entrepreneurs from low income countries are a norm.
These schools are Seboka Primary, Makoanyane Primary, Leqele Primary, Lithabaneng Primary and Lithabaneng High School.
The project involves facilitating “Child Friendly Schools” which is based on the simple premise that schools can and should operate in the best interests of the child; as well as much needed infrastructure improvements. This project also includes teacher training and equipping learners with additional life and entrepreneurial skills.
Rise International spokesperson Daniela Gusman says they are very proud to be the implementing partner of the project because it aligns perfectly with their core values which are community driven by development and social enterprise.
She went on to say that through participatory design workshops, they have encouraged and the engaged of the community in the planning and designing of the project, promoting school community partnerships.
“The food gardens will be a great resource for the schools to grow their own vegetables for feeding schemes and income generation. The community also has the opportunity to work on the construction sites, ensuring that they benefit from this project,” she said.
The principal of Seboka Primary ‘Mapakalitha Mafaesa thanked those involved, explaining the project is going to make a big change that will change the lives of the students for generations to come.
She said they have over 700 students at the school and the state of their toilets was terrible.
The minister of education and training, Ntlhoi Motsamai, expressed her excitement at the project and indicated that the project marks another generosity act by AIT.
