CHILD RIGHTS AND YOU (CRY)

Back then in 2004 I started a preschool at Ha Tsolo Maseru. This is the industrial site where most of the people especially women from all parts of the rural places of Lesotho come to seek employment in the firms.

I started with 20 kids and used the rented 2 roomed house. At first I was targeting the kids whom their parents were working in the firms and could not afford the nannies to take care of their little ones let alone to take them to school as they started to work as early as 0600hrs. But in the end, there were more kids from the nearby homes. The fees were so little since I was aware that the parents were earning very little from the firms. 

With Covid 19 pandemic, most of the firms were closed and the parents started to seek employment to the neighboring countries of Lesotho thus leaving the kids to take care of each other; meaning some kids at the age of 7 years were becoming the parents to the younger siblings. Due to this situation, these young parents are faced with different challenges such as: rejection and stigma from community members, dropping out of school due to poverty as they have to provide food, adequate shelter and other basic needs for their families. 

The purpose of my organization is to build the dormitories and expand the preschool for these kids. The intention is to give these kids the secure place against starvation, harsh climate, molesters and human trafficking as their parents continue to work outside the country. 

The aim is to house +-100 kids ageing 2-6 years and +-100 kids who will be attending the primary schools in the nearby schools but then at the end of the day, they will have a home to welcome them after school.

The project will also create employment to the nearby community as I am going to need the people who will cook and clean for the kids. I will also need the people who will be working in the gardens because the kids will be eating most of the vegetables from the same garden.

In the short run, I want these kids to mix with other kids from the well-off families. The kids from these other families will being paying the fees and thus help to subsides the need or gap which be caused by the other ones who could not afford. In this way these vulnerable kids will not feel like they don't belong to the community. It will also increase their self-confidence thus building the best future leaders of this country.

The parents will still have the connection with their little ones during school holidays but those whom the parents will still be outside the country would still be staying at the dormitories.

Maphillip Matooane is a director of Child Rights and You (CRY) organization. Due to her experience of working with kids in different field, she understands better therefore the team recommended her to lead because of her qualifications and experience that matched with the needs of CRY organization.

In her studies she graduated in Counseling and community development, and some courses she has include:

1- Youth and children society.

2- Reconciliation and peace making.

From these she is able to work with different kinds of children projects. She is a peacekeeper amongst the staff and the kids we serve. She is self
motivated leader who is motivating, inspiring and fostering enthusiasm for project.
She has leadership qualities and a key to success and has been motivating her team towards reaching the success of this project.

She is responsible for the organization’s strategic direction. These include: 

1 - Taking responsibility for all major decisions the board makes and ensuring that the organization follows all legal requirements 

2- She keeps the organization in line with legal guidance.

3- She abides her fiduciary duties and organization responsibilities. 

4 - She also encouraging good performance and values
allocating resources.

A team leader provides guidance and instruction to a working group about a project or a portfolio of project. They are in charge of delegating work, overseeing progress towards goals and coaching team members as needed. Team leads often serve as really mentors for the team.

1.  In the team leading there is a vice lead or vice president who can step in in the absence of chairperson/president who can take part and assist when its needed in the presence of leader.
2.  Secretary with support of his vice are having a task of organizing the files, preparing documents, managing office supply inventory and scheduling appointments.
3.  Treasury she will manage and make sure that the organization has sufficient funds to meet its short- and long-term obligations, minimize financing costs maximize return on investment and she also going to be responsible for the cash flow and the same responsibility she is taking with the organization funds she will do the same with the LEAP project funds. she will
4. Improve an organization’s cash flow by making sure that funds are being used efficiently and that short term obligations are being met. She also provides accurate and up-to-date information about an organization’s financial resources, which always helps decision- makers make better choice about how to allocate the resources.
5.  Advisors are to carry out the research studies, meet with the partners and the suppliers and be able to understand their mandates and evaluate the services provided in order to determine whether or not they meet the needs the community of beneficiaries. They are also identifying areas and opportunities within the community of beneficiaries. 
6. The advisors will also ensure the healthy environment for the kids by providing clean and safe drinking water sanitation. This could be done by regular cleaning of the school surroundings and teaching children hygienic practices such as hand washing during critical times. Regular monitoring of dormitories will be done to ensure that proper cleaning is done. Sanitation facilities will be kept clean.

1. Good Foundation on Education
2. Good mental and physical Health
3.  Best Shelters with accessible bathrooms 

The project is going to solve the problems of the kids who can't afford to go to school because their parents cannot afford the fees.

With the Internet labs which will be available the kids will interact with the outside world and make their own researches 

It will also assist with the residence of the kids whom their parents are working outside the country or even for those who work odd hours ( Night shifts)

The project will solve the issue of security to these kids as they will be staying in the safe place.

The project will also solve the rate of unemployment as there be the nannies, teachers, security guards and gardeners.

With the new playgrounds the kids will be able to stay healthy physically and emotionally.

1. Classrooms: There will be new and up to date classrooms for these kids. The intention is to have the Computer Labs with unlimited wi-fi to help them with interacting with the outside world and do some research thus help them to improve their level of education and excel in their studies.
2. Professional teachers: The Organization will employ professionals who specialized in the needs of these kids. (e.g., Phycologists)
3. Professional Nurses: Who will take care of the minor illness of the kids before they could be treated in the Doctors or new by hospitals.
4. Special Playgrounds: The kids will have access to different kind of games which enhance their mental and physical health.

CASE STUDIES:

1.   EDUCATION:

Within the 12-week project we would like to have assessed and enrolled the vulnerable children in the project.

2. SHELTER:

Within the 12-week project we will seek consent from the primary care givers to relocate the kids from the rented unsafe places to the new safe premises.

3. HEALTH:

Within the 12-week project we will engage Ministry of Health and Social Development to provide assistance of psychosocial and clinical support so as to know the kids who might be on the long life medication.

Our solution will be to implement all the case studies that we have done. 

1. FUNDS. 
   1. The organization needs the funds for the fees of these kids. 
   2. The organization needs funds to build classrooms for these kids.
   3. The organization needs funds to build shelter for these kids.
   4. The organization needs funds to feed and clothe these kids.
   5. The organization needs funds to maintain the good health of these kids.
2. This is the right time after the Covid 19 pandemic where most of the people were retrenched from their employment while others were receiving the half salaries. Most of the businesses were closed. Most of the factories were also closed down and these were the places where most of the women from the rural places and those who could not get jobs for their qualifications were working. Unemployment rate went up thus causing the misery to those who were earning a little.

1. How effective will CRY be on improving the level of education and safety of these vulnerable kids ageing 2-12 years?
2. How will the program assist these kids of low- and non--income parents who are working in the firms and as domestic workers in the neighboring countries?
3. How best could CRY implement its strategy to ensure its stability and continuity?

CASE STUDIES:

1.   EDUCATION:

Within the 12-week project we would like to have assessed and enrolled the vulnerable children in the project.

2. SHELTER:

Within the 12-week project we will seek consent from the primary care givers to relocate the kids from the rented unsafe places to the new safe premises.

3. HEALTH:

Within the 12-week project we will engage Ministry of Health and Social Development to provide assistance of psychosocial and clinical support so as to know the kids who might be on the long life medication.

1.   EDUCATION: The organization will place these kids in the right categories that is the preschools kids and primary kids. 

1. SHELTER: We will start to move these from the various places where they were and collectively place them in the new shelters. We will have gender base dormitories. On the 1st floor we will accommodate the kids ageing 2-6 years and the 2nd floor will be 7-12 years kids and they have secondary care givers. 
2. HEALTH: We will have the Mini Clinic which will check the kids with minor illness. We will also have the social workers for mental well being.

SHORT TERM OUTCOMES:

The research would assist us with the knowledge and understanding of the project. CRY will also seek out lead research efforts with the Ministries of Education, Health and Social Development.

LONG TERM OUTCOMES: 

Long term desired outcome would be for CRY to be recognized by the Lesotho Government and be one of the best schools in the country. But most importantly we wish CRY to grow so that it could cater for the kids up to Tertiary Levels.