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Lesotho-Washington,
November 25, 2005:
On the eve of Dr. Peg Herbert’s departure to Lesotho to oversee
implementation of the Youth Against HIV/AIDS project on Building
Governance Capacity and Community Engagement, Her Excellency
Ambassador Molelekeng E. Rapolaki, who is also Lesotho’s High
Commissioner to Canada met in Ottawa, Canada on Monday, November
21, 2005.
Dr. Herbert is the Youth Against HIV/AIDS (YAH)
Canadian Project Coordinator and also the Executive Director of
Help Lesotho project, a Canadian educational initiative
partnering public, private and volunteer resources to address
the effects of poverty and HIV/AIDS in Lesotho.
The Youth
Against HIV/AIDS is a two and a half (2 ½) year project, fully
funded, to the tune of $ 554,326 (Canadian Dollar) by the
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
The
Institute On Governance will administer the project.
During her
discussion with H.E. Ambassador Rapolaki, Dr. Herbert said, “So
many Canadians are now learning of the good hearts and generous
souls of the Basotho, and of their painful challenges. By
putting aside our individual differences and personal
inspiration, we can generate new ways of fighting HIV/AIDS and
bringing all the partners to the table. Help Lesotho and Youth
Against HIV/AIDS are working together with schools, civil
society organizations and various levels of government to build
trust and effectiveness to support Basotho initiatives. It is
our privilege to make new friends and be a part of this
struggle… it will take us all hand-in-hand to make the degree of
difference required. We are here to help Lesotho”.
In response,
Her Excellency Ambassador Rapolaki commended and applauded the
Canadian Government and Civil society, particularly Dr. Herbert
for joining hands in support of the fight against the HIV/AIDS
pandemic in Lesotho. She also commended the Institute on
Governance for their support particularly on Building Governance
Capacity and Community Engagement, noting that the initiative
would not have come at the right time as the country held its
first Local Government election earlier this year.
The
Ambassador further assured Dr. Herbert of a highly motivated
Basotho Youth and communities, who are prepared to partner with
whoever is interested in their wellbeing. She expressed hope
that the project will be an effective strategy to empower the
youths and enhance their current engagement in the fight against
HIV/AIDS, and most importantly equip them with requisite
governance skills for their full participation in the overall
long –term development of Lesotho.
YAH Canadian
Project Coordinator is expected to meet Mr. Keketso Sefeane,
Chief Executive Officer of National AIDS Commission, and pay
courtesy-call on the Honourable Ministers of Foreign Affairs and
of Gender and Home Affairs. Further, the National AIDS
Commission, in collaboration with YAH plans to host the First
Steering Committee meeting on December 15, 2005, wherein members
of the Committee will be elected. This will consist of senior
representatives from the Ministries of Gender Youth and Sports,
Home Affairs and Public Safety, and Education and Training,
Health and Social Welfare, Youths, NGOs and Civil Society.
Embassy of the
Kingdom of Lesotho
Washington, DC
November 25, 2005
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