A Joining Hands Against Hunger Network

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Office Telephone:
        (+266) 2232 5630

Physical Address:
Christian Council of Lesotho Building 160
Constitution Rd Maseru West

Postal Address:
Private Bag A34
Maseru 100
Lesotho

THE KOPANO KE MATLA TOANTS’ONG
EA BOFUMA LESOTHO
2005 FIRST QUARTER REPORT

Network Background

Through the inspiration given by the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Lesotho’s local churches, non-governmental and community-based organisations have established the country network which shall encourage and promote genuine dialogue within the member organisations and communities they serve so that people can work together in analysing the root causes of poverty, identifying their common problems, and devising strategies to address them collectively.

The Joining Hands Against Hunger Network in Lesotho was established in June 2002, following a conference of some 18 organisations meeting in Mazenod, followed by a network formation meeting held in Maseru in the Lesotho Evangelical Church (Mother Union Hall).

The Network is registered as Kopano Ke Matla Toantšong ea Bofuma Lesotho (Network), a non-governmental organisation under the Society Act of 1966.

Vision:

To work towards the transformation of Lesotho into a nation where people have access to their fundamental human needs.

Mission

The Mission of the Network is to have a programme of action which is aimed at sensitising people through organisations about the challenges of poverty, ascertaining root causes of poverty, examining the allocation of resources in Lesotho and participating in poverty reduction initiatives.

Aims and Objectives:

The aims and objectives of the Network are:
• To act and serve as a link in building a partnership among the civil society movement.
• To facilitate and empower member organisations.
• To empower member organisation to advocate for human rights in the context of social justice.
• To promote the concept of social inclusion in policymaking as regards to poverty eradication and/or alleviation.

Activities:

 To hold a retreat for the newly elected Executive Committee to deepen Network principles
 To organise facilitators and service providers.
 To research and develop factual information.
 To provide Advocacy and Lobbying Training
 To hold community meetings in 20 villages
 To develop and distribute materials on root causes of poverty

Outputs:

1. A retreat was held at the Anglican centre where all but two of the Committee members were present. A facilitator gave a presentation on various issues concerning leadership and management including:

A. Management
He answered questions such as ‘who can be a manager?’ i.e. what qualities should he/she possess in order to occupy this portfolio. He said this should be a person that is trustworthy, a protector, an organiser, an investor, somebody to whom tools have been entrusted to be administered with great care.

B. Board
He also answered the question of “What is a Board?” He told the incoming Committee that a Board is used mainly to describe a structure of individuals elected to manage a business or an organisation. They are often composed of a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary. Following this he emphasised all the functions of a Board according to protocol.

2. To organise facilitators and service providers, to research and develop
actual information, and to provide advocacy and lobbying training.

Mr. Shale was identified office as the sole facilitator for research and development of factual information for advocacy and lobbying training that was to be held sometime in February.

The Training of Trainers workshop was held at the Anglican Centre attended by two representatives from each district except in the following districts, which each sent three: Mokhotlong, Thaba-tseka, Berea, Qacha’snek, Quthing. The workshop was to train Network members on root causes of poverty so they would then disseminate the information to their respective vicinities.

3. To hold community meetings in 20 villages; to develop and distribute materials on root causes of poverty.

The above have been scheduled for April to coincide with a world event called a Week of Free Trade and Globalization that will be taking place from the 10th-16th April. It is meant to be a week in which the communities of the world undertake massive education campaigns on issues of fair trade and globalization. In Lesotho, the Network has decided to spread the message through its members that were trained during Training of Trainers event when they will distribute materials on root causes of poverty to the communities they serve.


Conclusion:

Overall, the first quarter has been a success with almost all activities having been carried.

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