By Poloko Mokhele
Avani Lesotho Hotel and Casino on Friday handed over toiletry and snacks packages to prisoners at the Lesotho Correctional Service’ Juvenile Training Centre (JTC).
The donation was done in partnership with youth-led Pioneers of Love Association (POLA) and Friends of Future Leaders (FFL) organisations which requested help from Avani Lesotho on behalf of the prisoners.
POLA chairperson, Tŝepang Mokalimotso said: “we visited the JTC facility sometime in 2020 and realised that the prisoners in there were in need of a number of basic items.
“Therefore, since we are an organisation that deals with youth empowerment we thought it would be a great idea to visit JTC and see how we can motivate the prisoners they are young people.”
Mokalimotso added that they approached Avani Lesotho to assist them and after the consideration of their proposal, the hotel supported them.
“We had initially planned to donate on Christmas day but due to Covid-19 restrictions, we could not come hence we are only donating today,” he said.
LCS representative Superintendent Paki Morakabi lamented that the situation at the facility worsens each day due to the costly living necessities of the prisoners and that they are thankful to private companies and organisations that always assist them.
“We are in need of a lot of items to help the prisoners because some of their relatives stay far and cannot visit regularly; these gifts will really be helpful. The other issue is that we too have not been spared the brunt of Covid-19, so organisations coming in to help make a huge difference,” Morakabi said.
JTC, which accommodates mostly under-age prisoners has a total of 42 prisoners, 38 boys and four girls.
