By Seleoe Nonyane
The St Bernadette Resource Centre for the Blind today received M600 000 financial support from the Vodacom Lesotho Foundation (VLF) and UNICEF.
The two organisations donated M300 000 each.
The funds will be used to support the institution’s operations, purchasing of books, assistive devices, utilities and other needs.
The donation is an addition to the M650 000 VLF gave in 2022.
Commenting on the support to the centre, VLF chairman John Matlosa said the organisation is committed to honouring its social contract with Basotho through critical interventions. This is done by collaborating with partners sharing the same vision.
Matlosa said the mobile telecommunications giant was also keen to increase its funding towards intervention programmes.
“The Foundation’s support is in line with its five pillars in social impact projects in areas such as education, health, gender, youth entrepreneurship and public safety,” Matlosa said.
Speaking on behalf of UNICEF Lesotho, deputy representative Kimamzi Muthengi said the aid agency is supporting the government in advancing the rights of children and adolescents with disabilities through multi-sectoral disability and inclusion programming.
Such children face multiple challenges including access to quality education, water, sanitation, nutrition, and protection. This limits their functionality and ability to participate in household and community life, and learning at school.
“We call upon players from the private sector to join hands and support the ministry of education and training in realising its mandate of providing education that accommodates all children including those living with disabilities,” Muthengi said.
