Five Vulnerable Families Receive New Homes: Restoring Dignity and Hope Through Partnership
By Reentseng Phephetho, Communications and Digital Officer Lesotho
Lack of shelter remains one of the leading contributors to vulnerability in many communities across Lesotho. When children have no proper place to call home, their lives are marked by constant exposure to risks such as abuse, violence, and emotional distress. The absence of a safe shelter often affects their education, leaving them anxious, depressed, and unable to focus on their studies.
For many families, this harsh reality has been an everyday struggle. Among them is Mohanuoa, a grandmother caring for her three grandchildren, whose dilapidated house would crumble each time heavy rains fell. “Every time it started raining, I started wondering where the house will be falling off—I knew it had to happen,” Mohanuoa recalled, her voice heavy with memory.
“Every time it started raining, I started wondering where the house will be falling off—I knew it had to happen,” Mohanuoa recalled
Mohanuoa and her grandchildren stand in front of their dilapidated home.
The family’s nights were long and filled with fear. When strong winds blew, Mohanuoa would huddle in a corner with her grandchildren, praying that the roof would not collapse. “The moment I realised that with each rainfall our house was falling off, I told my mind that one day, we will come home to no house at all. It pained me a lot,” shared Thabiso, her 16-year-old grandson.
With no stable income and no support system, Mohanuoa’s greatest worry was what might happen to her grandchildren if the house finally gave in. “I was never at peace,” she said quietly. “Even when I left them to run errands, my heart stayed behind, wondering what could happen if the house collapsed.”
But this story—and those of four other families—has taken a new and hopeful turn.
In a continued effort to improve the wellbeing of vulnerable children and their families, World Vision International Lesotho (WVIL), in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Lesotho, has built new homes—two-roomed houses complete with toilets and water tanks—for five vulnerable families. The initiative, made possible through a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organizations, has already brought tangible change to communities in Rothe and Mpharane Area Programs, where three and two families respectively have received new homes.
House handover by Habitat for Humanity Lesotho and World Vision Lesotho, with support from Stanlib Lesotho.
The construction of these homes was funded through Stanlib Lesotho’s Corporate Social Initiative, which supported Habitat for Humanity’s shelter assistance program. World Vision identified the most vulnerable registered children from the two Area Programs, ensuring that those in greatest need would benefit first.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony, Ms. Nyakallo, a representative from Habitat for Humanity Lesotho, emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing deep-rooted social challenges. “We are committed to ensuring the wellbeing of vulnerable communities through the provision of shelter, and partnerships like this one with World Vision Lesotho enable us to create greater and lasting impact,” she said.
“We are committed to ensuring the wellbeing of vulnerable communities through the provision of shelter, and partnerships like this one with World Vision Lesotho enable us to create greater and lasting impact,” she said.
Echoing these sentiments, Mr. Tohlang, Integrated Programs Director at World Vision Lesotho, expressed his gratitude and pride in seeing the partnership bear fruit in such a short time. “As a child-focused organization, it really breaks our hearts to see children facing hardships like having no shelter,” he said. “We are really happy today to see the joy on their faces as they receive new homes, and we appreciate this strategic partnership with Habitat for Humanity.”
From Stanlib Lesotho, Mr. Mohlabinyane, highlighted the company’s excitement to see the transformation these homes will bring. “As Stanlib, we often focus on financial education, but this time, we decided to support shelter initiatives as a way of giving back to our communities,” he said. “This was prompted by the living conditions we’ve seen across Lesotho—so many families struggling without proper homes. Today, we are proud that within the first year of our collaboration, five families are receiving this life-changing support.”
For Mohanuoa and her grandchildren, the gift of a new home feels almost unreal. “I still cannot believe that this house is mine,” she said, smiling through tears of joy. “I thank God, World Vision, and Habitat for Humanity. The sleepless nights are now stories of the past. I can now sleep peacefully with my children in the new house—it is so comfortable that I even sleep during the day ”
Thabiso, Mohanuoa’s 16-year-old grandson
Her grandson Thabiso, once burdened by fear and worry, now feels the freedom of being a child again. “I feel I am a child again. I no longer have stress,” he said. “I can now proudly show my friends where I live because it is so beautiful.”
This joint initiative stands as a powerful example of how strong partnerships between development organizations and the private sector can create lasting, tangible change. The provision of safe, dignified housing not only restores hope and stability—it strengthens family resilience and allows children to thrive in an environment where they feel safe, loved, and secure.
I feel I am a child again. I no longer have stress,” he said. “I can now proudly show my friends where I live because it is so beautiful.”
For these five families, the new homes represent more than shelter—they are symbols of dignity, safety, and a fresh start toward a brighter future.