4110 Denfeld Ave. Kensington, MD 20895 friendsoflesotho

1. 4110 Denfeld Ave. Kensington, MD 20895 www.friendsoflesotho.org

2. How to Use This Presentation This slide show may be used while speaking at Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) reunions as well as with other organizations and groups who wish to learn more about Lesotho and the mission of The Friends of Lesotho. • Speakers can adapt the presentation based on the audience and their Peace Corps experience. • Individuals can read the notes pages to supplement the presentation slides.

3. Overview • PART 1 - Lesotho: Kingdom in the Sky • PART 2 - Friends of Lesotho (FOL) - Who we are - How we’re organized - What we do • PART 3 - How to help

4. Lesotho: Kingdom in the Sky Question: Name three countries in the world that are completely surrounded by just ONE other country (not including an ocean). Answer: Lesotho, the Vatican (Italy) and San Marino (Italy). part 1

5. Lesotho: Kingdom in the Sky (cont’d)

6. Lesotho: History Moshoeshoe (1786-1870) - Father of the Basotho nation and one of the greatest leaders in the history of southern Africa. • 1820s - Gathered Basotho refugees during Lifaqane • 1824 - Established national capital at Thaba Bosiu • 1833 - Invited missionaries • 1858-1868 - Fought four Boer Wars • 1868 - Petitioned for Basotholand Protectorate

7. Lesotho: History (cont’d) • Basotholand never part of the Republic of South Africa • Independence restored after 98 years of British Rule • Became the Kingdom of Lesotho on October 4, 1966.

8. Lesotho: Geography and Climate Area: About the size of Maryland Capital: Maseru (173,700) Terrain: High veld, plateau and mountains. Climate: Temperate. Rainy season in summer, winters dry but snow in the higher elevations. Southern hemisphere seasons are reversed.

9. Lesotho: People Nationality: Noun -- Mosotho (sing.); Basotho (pl.). Adjective -- Basotho. Population: (2005 est.): 2 million Ethnic groups: Basotho 99.7%; Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3% Religions: 80% Christian, including Roman Catholic (majority), Lesotho Evangelical, Anglican, other denominations; other religions include Islam, Hindu, indigenous Languages: Official -- Sesotho and English. Others --Zulu, Xhosa

10. Lesotho: Culture • Friendly and curious • Oral traditions • Decorative arts • Sports • Pitsos • Feasts • Sesotho language

11. Lesotho: Economy • Economy based on water and electricity sold to South Africa • Earnings from the Southern African Customs Union • Wages of laborers employed in South Africa • Exports - diamonds, wool, clothing, furniture, footwear and mohair • Agriculture and livestock • Economic aid

12. Lesotho: Tourism There are numerous activities to enjoy as a tourist in Lesotho: • Camping and Backpacking • Pony Trekking • Rock Climbing • Bird Watching • Canoeing • Fishing • Rally-Driving • Skiing To learn more about tourism in Lesotho visit http://www.ltdc.org.ls/

13. Lesotho: Tourism (cont’d) There are numerous activities to enjoy as a tourist in Lesotho: • Handicrafts • Hotels, Casinos, Mountain Lodges • Sehlabathebe National Park • Cave Dwellings and Paintings • Fossil Hunting • Philately • Festivals and National Holidays • Volunteer Projects To learn more about tourism in Lesotho visit http://www.ltdc.org.ls/

14. Lesotho: Health • A reasonably healthy place due to dry, cool climate • No mosquitoes, and thus no malaria • Main health problem is water • All the district capitals have hospitals • AIDS a serious problem in Lesotho • Tuberculosis and venereal diseases are major health problems

15. Lesotho: Government and Political Conditions Lesotho is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy • Prime Minister is head of government and has executive authority • King serves a largely ceremonial function • The King is proscribed from from actively participating in in political initiatives. The Royal FamilyPrincess Senate, Queen ‘Masenate and King Letsie III

16. Lesotho: Government and Political Conditions (cont’d) Government Structures • National Assembly • 80 directly elected • 40 elected through Proportional Representation • House of Senate • 22 Principal Chiefs whose membership is hereditary • 11 appointees of the King

17. Lesotho: Government and Political Conditions (cont’d) The Constitution • Provides for an independent judicial system • Protects basic civil liberties, including freedom of: • speech • association • the press • peaceful assembly • religion.

18. Lesotho: Government and Political Conditions (cont’d) Elections • Lesotho held its first post-independence local government elections on April 30, 2005 • A quota system reserved one-third of electoral divisions for women candidates; 53% of the victorious candidates were women • Locally elected officials are presently in post-election training while regulations for local governance are drawn up by the National Assembly and infrastructure is created. Honorable M. Motsanai Speaker of the National Assembly

19. Lesotho: U.S. Relations • The United States was one of the first four countries to establish an embassy in Maseru after Lesotho gained its independence from Great Britain in 1966. • Lesotho and the United States have consistently maintained warm bilateral relations. • Total U.S. aid to Lesotho is over $10 million, including humanitarian food assistance. • The Government of Lesotho encourages greater American participation in commercial life and welcomes interest from potential U.S. investors and suppliers. Ambassador June Carter Perry

20. Lesotho: U.S. Peace Corps About 100 Peace Corps volunteers per year concentrate in the sectors of: • Community health • Education • Rural community development • Agriculture Approximately 1,888 volunteers have served in Lesotho since 1966. FOL supports PCVs working in Lesotho by sending donations to a Tuition Assistance Program and for special projects through a Volunteer Advisory Committee

21. FOL: Who We Are Friends of Lesotho • A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization promoting friendship between the peoples of Lesotho and North America • Comprised of former Peace Corps volunteers and others who share our mission part 2

22. FOL: Who We Are • Affiliated with the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) • Funds scholarships and grants to small development projects in Lesotho • Provides information about current events in Lesotho • Assists in locating old friends from Lesotho

23. Bill Dunn, President PC Lesotho 1979-1982Anchorage, AK Richard Rowan, Vice-President PC Lesotho 1979-1983 St. Paul, MN Ella Kwisnek, Secretary PC Lesotho 1992-1994 Pittsburgh, PA 15228 John Hollister, Treasurer PC Lesotho 1986-1988 Kensington, MD Kevin Freer PC Lesotho 1976-1978 Altamonte Springs, FL Claire Hilger PC Lesotho 1997-1999 San Francisco, CA Jim Mueller PC Lesotho 2002-2004 Waldorf, MD Martha Munson PC Lesotho 2001-2003 Harrisonburg, VA Elizabeth Perry PC Lesotho 1997-1999 Sultan, WA Todd Vetter PC Lesotho 1995-1998 Cos Cob, CT FOL: How We’re Organized Board of Directors 2006 - 2007

24. President Bill Dunn Secretary Ella Kwisnek Vice President Richard Rowan Annual Meetings Martha Munson By Laws Bill Dunn Treasurer John Hollister Nominations Bill Dunn Membership Ella Kwisnek Donations/Distributions Richard Rowan Fundraising Kevin Freer Embassy Liaison Martha Munson NPCA Representative Jim Mueller FOL: Board Committees and Task Forces

25. FOL: Meetings For all board and committee meetings: • Members are welcome to join conference calls • Minutes are posted on the FOL website. Regularly scheduled meetings: • Board meets every three months via conference calls • Committees accomplish their work between meetings and report back to the board on their status. Contact any board member for the conference phone number and access code.

26. FOL: Meetings (cont’d) Annual meeting • Held near the date of Lesotho’s Independence Day – October 4th • Conducted via conference call • Purpose is to elect board members and present the Annual Report • Includes speakers from the Lesotho Embassy, recently returned Peace Corps Volunteers and others who update the membership on news from Lesotho • Announced in the September Newsletter with call-in information • Members are encouraged to gather in groups for the meeting.

27. Website www.friendsoflesotho.org Home Page About Lesotho Contacts News Members Sesotho Language Maps Photos Letters Links Newsletter Faye Farmer, Coordinator President’s Report Committee Reports Lesotho News Updates Ways to Give Fundraising Ideas FOL Project Reports Book Reviews Networking, Reunions and Member Updates What FOL Does: Information Sharing

28. What FOL Does: Peace Corps Volunteer Connections • Information and referrals for both Pre-Service volunteers and RPCVs • Prospective PCV requests for information and contacts of current volunteers in Lesotho • Directory of RPCVs with emails • Opportunities for RPCVs to continue their support of projects in Lesotho • FOL also matches up RPCVs with individuals and groups who want to support our mission. www.friendsoflesotho.org

29. What FOL Does: Fundraising • Provides new opportunities for funds • Ensures the Board’s ability to continue its work • Increases our ability to fund needed projects • FOL gladly accepts donations, which we will forward to Lesotho • Funding sources include memberships, company matching gifts, donations, bequests, sales and special events Copies of FOL’s financial activities for the year can be obtained from John Hollister, Treasurer.

30. What FOL Does: Work Within Lesotho FOL provides grants to current Peace Corps Volunteers in Lesotho for small projects Volunteer Advisory Committee (VAC) • VAC funds projects which would otherwise be too small to be considered by major donor NGOs • Projects have included supplies for classrooms and HIV/AIDS awareness education, and small business and craft co-op start-up materials Letters and updates from donor recipients and funded projects are available on our website.

31. What FOL Does: Work Within Lesotho (cont’d) FOL funds scholarships to Secondary school students Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) • Recipients selected by the TAP Committee (consisting of current Peace Corps Volunteers)

32. “My goal is to change the way of living in my family and to become a social worker. Through your help I will achieve my goals and am now focusing on my success.” - Moleboheng 'Muso, Qacha's Nek “Thank you very much for the money to go to school. I shall work very hard this year and I shall attend school very well. When I finish school I want to be a doctor.” - Lira Mokebe “Thank you very much for your assistance to my family. I am very happy about this assistance because it's the first time we have this. My family sent their love.” - Letsika Mosala, Moteng TAP Recipients

33. What FOL Does: Work Within Lesotho (cont’d) FOL funds HIV/AIDS education • FOL has provided targeted funds for development of HIV/AIDS programs through PCVs

34. What FOL Does: Work Within Lesotho (cont’d) Orphanages FOL is proud to help match funding and workers with orphanages • Currently working with “Touching Tiny Lives” on funding initiatives More information on Touching Tiny Lives can be found on our website.

35. What FOL Does: Work Within Lesotho (cont’d) Members and friends sometimes ask FOL for help to transfer funds or supplies to Lesotho for special projects when individuals or their organizations do not have the means to do so. Special distributions have included: • Supporting SHIPAid, a program that ships used clothing and educational materials to Lesotho. • Vitamins • Sports Equipment • Books • University service-learning projects • Other on-going requests. For more information on special disbursements, contact John Hollister, Treasurer.

36. How You Can Help: Membership Why join FOL? • Make a difference in the lives of Basotho • Keep abreast of the news in Lesotho via our quarterly newsletter, website and Annual Meeting • Join a group of like-minded people. part 3 Membership Forms available on the FOL website.

37. How You Can Help: Referrals of Other RPCVs • Can't find someone? Neither can we sometimes. Do you know the where-abouts of anyone on our "Missing" list? • Encourage others to renew their memberships or join FOL. • Thanks for your help. For more information on how to locate RPCVs, contact Ella Kwisnek, Membership Chair.

38. How You Can Help: Newsletter Articles • Do you know a great website? • Have you given a talk about Lesotho? • Have you visited Lesotho recently? • Do you have photos from Lesotho to share? Submit articles, photos, or information of interest to our members to: Faye Farmer, FOL Newsletter Coordinator f_e_@hotmail.com, or send hard copies to 2612 E. Geneva Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282 FOL members who can sponsor one of our future newsletters through corporate, church or other organizations are asked to contact Faye Farmer for details.

39. How You Can Help: Donations Members can indicate how they would like their additional contributions allocated: • HIV/AIDS Education • Tuition Assistance Program • Orphanages • Volunteer Advisory Committee Projects • Morija Museum • Wherever the need is greatest Friends of Lesotho Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) organization. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

40. How You Can Help: Fundraising The fundraising committee is always looking for new ideas and member participation.

41. How You Can Help: Wills and Estate Planning Members can request information on more ways to give: • Wills • Estate planning • IRAs • Insurance policy beneficiary • Other bequests and memorial gifts Contact John Hollister, Treasurer, for a copy of the Wills and Estate Planning Kit.

42. How You Can Help: Committee Work FOL members who do not wish to make a long-term commitment to the board are encouraged to: • Join standing committees, or • Work on special projects which match their skills and interests to the needs of the organization For more information on committee work, contact Bill Dunn, President.

43. How You Can Help: Board Service • Directors are members in good standing who are elected on their ability and willingness to support the purpose of FOL • Nominations are welcome year round • Elections are held at the Annual Meeting in October • Directors serve for two-year terms For more information on board service, contact Bill Dunn, President.

44. Kea leboha!Thank you for your interest! Visit our website at www.friendsoflesotho.org Informational websites: • http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html • http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/ • http://www.unaids.org/en/ • http://www.unesco.org For more information and news, visit our website for additional links to Lesotho on the web.