Seabata Mahao
Deep in the highlands of Mokhotlong district, Econet Telecom Lesotho (ETL), through its social impact agency, Higherlife Foundation, has demonstrated its unrelenting passion to restore dignity to destitute families.
The telecommunications company recently handed over a fully furnished, two-roomed house to the Lelapa family in Ntlhlolohetsane village in the remote district of Mokhotlong.
The initiative has not only restored a sense of belonging, safety, and security to the less fortunate household but also improved the family’s living conditions.
Before the benevolence of ETL, the Lelapa household, which houses an education scholarship beneficiary under HigherLife Foundation (name withheld), used to live in a badly deteriorated house, which posed the danger of falling on them at any time.
But thanks to ETL, the Lelapa household now owns a brand new modern house, equipped with furniture and essential amenities such as electricity and water.
Speaking during the house handover ceremony, ‘Mapusetso Ntšekhe, ETL’s Head of Marketing and Customer Experience General Manager, highlighted the significance of the gesture in enhancing the well-being of the family and fostering hope for a brighter future.
“This handover represents a significant milestone in our journey towards creating a lasting difference in the lives of individuals and families within our community. By providing a safe and stable home, we aim to contribute to their overall well-being and foster a sense of security and hope for a brighter future,” she said.
She explained that the selection process for the beneficiary household involved careful consideration of various criteria, ensuring that the initiative would have a meaningful and lasting impact.
“We have carefully considered various criteria such as financial circumstances, personal circumstances, and long-term sustainability to ensure that this gesture has a meaningful and lasting impact on the recipient’s life.
“As ETL, we are also striving to reach out to people who are in dire need of assistance such as this one. We are rejoicing with our student today so that she can focus more on her studies without any worries including her wellbeing,” Ntšekhe added.
‘Mamolai Lelapa, who spoke on behalf of the Lelapa family, expressed gratitude to Higherlife Foundation for their long-standing support.
“Life has not been easy, but I always thank God for giving me strength to take care of my niece. Today we finally saw God’s miracle in answering her prayers, and we will rejoice going forward because we are going to live normal lives like other people.”
“We are very grateful to Higherlife Foundation for being a loyal companion in this long journey,” Lelapa said.
The HigherLife Foundation beneficiary, a grade 11 student at Seeiso High School, received praise from her teacher, ‘Masiyabonga Tšita, who described her as a bright and talented student despite facing challenges related to her family background.
“Even though she comes from a struggling family, she does not carry it with her to school. She is among our top-performing learners at school. We are going to celebrate her results next year.
“We have to collaborate and team up with other corporates for a better life for our learners as Higherlife Foundation recently hosted a career expo here in Mokhotlong for them to learn better,” Tšita concluded.
