Lesotho has the 3^rd highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the world. This forgotten country boasts some of the most devastating statistics on earth. The majority of the ‘parental’ generation has passed away or are very ill. AIDS has destroyed families and left grandmothers to care for orphaned children. Many youth have also been burdened with the reality of having to care for younger siblings or ill family members. Lesotho does not have a bright future – BUT IT IS POSSIBLE TO CHANGE THIS!

Help Lesotho is working in the rural mountains of Lesotho. Rather than focusing efforts on the capital city, the organization reaches out to the most rural populations. These youth have very few opportunities to reach educational programs or services that would increase their knowledge about HIV/AIDS and gender equity. Help Lesotho has created leadership programs to inspire change by providing concrete skills, self-esteem building, and increased feelings of self-worth.

Girls and women in Lesotho are particularly vulnerable to many factors that are associated with poverty and illness. But girls and women are also particularly capable of creating a better future for themselves and their country.

Topics surrounding gender equity and HIV/AIDS awareness are embedded within all Help Lesotho leadership initiatives and programming. By focusing on leadership, the goal is to offer support to the youth who have the ability to work with the populations in their communities to bring about change.

Help Lesotho is thrilled to have Pearls for Girls as a partner. We all want the same thing – to increase leadership as girls become citizens of the world. The sale of this pearl jewellery helps fund such leadership initiatives as:

• Gender conferences and programs in Help Lesotho centres and certain villages to raise up dozens of young women as Agents of Change in their communities;
• Orphan relief to help children in emergency situations who would otherwise not receive any support; and 
• Ongoing leadership activities, whether with twinned schools, sponsored children, or the general public.