LFS CEO ‘Malehlohonolo Van Tonder (left) greets some of the beneficiaries during the handover ceremony.
Rethabile Pitso
LETSHEGO Financial Solutions (LFS) on Tuesday donated sewing machines and dining hall tables worth M45 000 to the Good Shepherd Centre for Teenage Mothers.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Sehlabeng, Maseru, LFS Chief Executive Officer ‘Malehlohonolo Van Tonder said the equipment was meant to support the life skills training the young mothers were undergoing at the centre so they can become self-reliant.
“Letshego is a financial services provider which currently operates in nine African countries with our headquarters located in Botswana. We started operating in Lesotho in 2012,” said Ms Van Tonder.
“In each of the countries we operate, we always do our utmost to extend a helping hand to vulnerable groups in the community that supports our business.”
She said the donation of the five machines, consisting of three sewing and two embroidery machines, was meant to equip the young mothers with the tools to learn life skills.
“We aim to empower these women to uplift themselves from poverty, and implore them to use the equipment for its intended purpose,” Ms Van Tonder said.
The Good Shepherd Centre for Teenage Mothers provides single mothers in need of help with a safe, supportive place to live while they learn how to look after themselves and their children. The centre offers lodging for the teenage mothers and their children as well as vocational training for two years. Thereafter, they are then expected to return to their communities as independent people.
According to Good Shepherd Centre for Teenage Mothers Director, Sister Jacintha Rantso, the facility was currently caring for 28 teenage mothers with their 26 children.
On his part, the centre’s patron, Chief Bereng Seeiso, lauded LFS for the gesture and urged other companies to fulfill their corporate social responsibilities by assisting vulnerable members of the community.
“We are grateful for the gifts Letshego has brought to this home and we can only bid them success in their endeavors. Letshego has proven that it is not operating in the country merely for profit-making purposes but also to give back to the society,” said Chief Seeiso.
“We therefore ask God to bless LFS and urge you to remember God is your anchor whenever storms come. God is the reason we have all gathered today and that should not be taken lightly. We therefore need to allow him to always guide us in everything we aspire to do.”
