Dear Fellow Parishioners,

Great progress is being made for the children we are supporting in Lesotho. Dr. Edith Mohapi, Executive Director for the Baylor International Pediatric Aids Institute in Maseru, the capitol of Lesotho and where the clinic is located, has sent us a recent update with a report on how our funding has been directed to each of the 25 children on this program. All children selected are HIV+ and have lost one or both of the parents to AIDS. Their primary caregivers are grandparents or other relatives.

Our support has been received primarily in the funding of school uniforms(which are required in order to attend school in Lesotho),school fees, nutritional food supplies, transport fare to and from school as they can live great distances, and even assistance with growing vegetables in their backyards.

Assisting Dr. Mohapi with this project, with unending commitment and energy has been Mrs. Mabothobile Shebe, Diocese of Lesotho HIV/AIDS Coordinator, who has identified the most needy children for this program.

The children who are school age are attending the Mahlaseli Elementary School which is being funded and overseen by the Anglican Dioscese of Lesotho under the auspices of Bishop Adam Taaso.

On this page to the right you will see links to pictures of several of the beautiful children in the program.

Plans for the future include the funding of two playgrounds at the Baylor International Pediatric Aids Institute which has been specifically requested by Dr. Mohapi. She cites the long waits the children endure, sometimes up to four or five hours due to demand, to receive their ART(anti-retroviral therapy) and there is no place at the clinic for them to play or pass the time. Further updates on this to come!

If you would like further information on our program in Lesotho or wish to get involved, both Les Mitchell and myself would be delighted to hear from you. Emails: etsurdinis@aol.com/lcmitch@optonline.net.  

Thanks to each and everyone for your wonderfull support!

Ellie Tsurdinis