2005 NEWS
All change in Lesotho
November 2005 has been a significant month in Lesotho, both for the LINK and for the diocese of Lesotho. In the LINK it was agreed that M’e Christine Beukes should become part time in the New Year and retire in June. Christine has been Executive Officer in Lesotho for the past 4 years and steered the LINK through difficult financial and management issues which she inherited. Her great joy is seeing the LINK staff now established in the new LINK offices at the Maqalika site and the staff delivering effective and innovative Peer Group AIDS Educators courses to hundreds of young Basotho.
For the first time in its history the Management Board in Lesotho made its own appointment of an EO and unanimously chose Stephen Mabula to take over the position in June. Stephen has been with the LINK for the past 11 years and is a wonderful ambassador for the LINK wherever he goes. His commitment to the LINK has always been of the highest order. He is married with two young children.
One of the staff, Nthabiseng, has left the LINK to take up employment elsewhere but two trainee instructors have been appointed in her place. With the expected increase in work load for the staff their employment has become essential.
Changes have also been happening in the diocese of Lesotho. On November 11th Bishop Joseph announced his retirement effective from June 2006. He will be taking a three month sabbatical prior to his departure. It has not been an easy episcopacy for Bishop Joseph as he has been faced with many very difficult issues in the diocese. Those who met Bishop Joseph during his visits to Durham will miss his warm, approachable style and we wish him and M’e Regina every blessing in their retirement.
On a sad note we also learned of the death on November 20th of Father Raymond Brown who served for many years in Lesotho. In his latter years he lived in retirement in Hlotse maintaining regular contact with the sisters at Community of the Holy Name. Father Brown was in his nineties and had been frail for some years.
New LINK E.O appointed in Lesotho
People with long memories of the LINK may remember that way back in 1993/4 two young Basotho men came to Durham for a year to train to be outdoor activity instructors. They were to be the pioneer leaders of the new LINK project, the Youth Activities Project (YAP), which would offer children and young people in Lesotho the opportunity to engage in a range of character building outdoor pursuits. One of those young men, Stephen Mabula, went on to become manager of YAP, serving the LINK in Lesotho with vision, dedication and hard work. He has been fundamental to the continuing developments in Lesotho and to the respect and esteem in which the LINK is held. It was entirely fitting, then, that the management board in Lesotho should have voted unanimously that Stephen should be appointed as Executive Officer when M’e Christine Beukes retired in June. Stephen is married to Agnes and they have two young children, a son, Tumelo, and a daughter, Masisi. Stephen was able to join the delegates at the recent National Lesotho Charities Conference where he brought invaluable insights into working for charities in a developing country. We look forward to continuing a close relationship with Stephen and with the Lesotho LINK staff.
Any vacancies?!
When the LINK decided to build an accommodation block at its site in Maseru no one imagined it would prove so popular so quickly. The 36 bed, six dormitory unit was funded in large part by generous donations from Durham High School for Girls and by Durham Cathedral. It was constructed to achieve three goals. Firstly, to enable the LINK staff to offer Peer AIDS Educators courses and other activities to children from the more remote parts of Lesotho throughout the year, even in the cold winter months, providing safe, secure warm accommodation. Secondly, to provide affordable accommodation for visiting groups both from Lesotho and the UK. Thirdly, to give the LINK in Lesotho an income generating revenue stream to help them towards financial independence. Within the three months since the accommodation block was opened by the Queen of Lesotho it has been in constant use by visitors from Durham (sixth formers from Durham High School for Girls, students from Durham University School of Education) and by a whole range of Basotho groups, including school pupils on LINK courses. Indeed, some groups have had to be turned away. Already it is proving to be a fruitful revenue stream for the LINK – so if you are thinking of accommodation in Lesotho, book early, there might not be any vacancies!
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