Gifts that Transform Lives: How Gift-in-Kind Programme is Complementing Hygiene Interventions in Lesotho

In the village of Ha-Senkoase, in Mokhotlong, life was not always safe or healthy for families struggling with limited access to clean water and proper hygiene. In 2024, World Vision transformed the lives of the Ha-Senkoase community with the installation of a community water system and 29 taps: 12 new and 19 rehabilitated to serve 220 households comprising of 1565 people. For the first time, families had reliable access to clean and safe water.

Access to clean and safe water was a life-changing resource to the community because it meant families could now drink clean, safe water, cook healthy meals, nourish their crops, maintain good hygiene practice and girls could manage their menstrual hygiene with dignity. Yet, even with this progress, one major challenge persisted: proper handwashing hygiene.

For many households, old habits remained. Having walked long distances for generations to collect water from open springs, families were accustomed to storing water and reusing it sparingly. This meant handwashing was often done in shared basins of standing water. Children played, adults tended their fields and livestock, people went to the toilet, and everyone dipped their hands in the same basin to wash their hands throughout the day and before meals.

The families believed they were keeping clean. But in reality, the practice exposed them to preventable diseases. Stomach pains, and skin infections were frequent visitors in many homes, especially among children.

“We used to share one small basin, and we did not use soap to wash our hands,” - Jabulane

For Jabulane’s family, this was the painful reality. With three children to raise, the family often faced recurring sicknesses. “We used to share one small basin, and we did not use soap to wash our hands,” recalls Jabulane. “The little soap we had, we tried to save for washing school uniforms, our clothes, and keeping the house clean, so using it to wash hands felt like a waste.”

What they didn’t know was that the dirty water they believed was keeping them clean was in fact spreading infections among the children. “It broke my heart to see my children sick so often,” Jabulane adds. “I didn’t understand why this was happening.”

When World Vision Lesotho staff visited the community, they quickly identified the cause. Through hygiene education, families learned how their routine of reusing basin water was undermining their health. As part of its Gift-in-Kind (GIK) programme, World Vision Lesotho provided households with Sato tap handwashing solutions; simple but innovative devices that release a controlled stream of clean water and provision for easy soap access to encourage proper and hygienic handwashing as well as bars of soap.

The Sato taps and soap, were placed outside homes, giving families a convenient and hygienic way to wash their hands. This Gift-In-Kind was a direct response to SDG 6: ‘Clean Water and Sanitation’, which calls for universal access to hygiene through handwashing facilities with soap and water for every household.

“Now my children wash their hands with soap on the Sato tap every day without fail; after school, after playing, and before meals.  - Jabulane

At Jabulane’s home, the Sato tap was installed just outside the main entrance, with a dedicated soap holder within easy reach for the children. This simple setup transformed daily routines, making handwashing convenient, hygienic, and part of every meal and activity. With running water available at any time, the family no longer relies on shared basins or limited soap, ensuring that cleanliness is consistent and effortless. 

 “We no longer have to wash our hands in the dirty basin." - Hlompho

“Now my children wash their hands with soap on the Sato tap every day without fail; after school, after playing, and before meals." says Jabulane, smiling proudly. His 13-year-old daughter, Hlomoho, adds with delight: “We no longer have to wash our hands in the dirty basin. My siblings and I love using the tap because it flows with running water. And my father no longer worries about soap because now we have plenty.”

The changes in the household are evident. The children are no longer falling sick which means they can attend school regularly, participate in class, and enjoy their studies without interruption.  “The soap is very soft on our hands and it smells so good,” beams Hlomoho. “We even use it to bathe, wash our school uniforms, and our shirts are always white and clean! It makes everything so much easier for us.” With the Sato tap and soap readily available, the family’s daily routines have become smoother and less stressful. They no longer have to worry about sharing a single basin, or fear illness from unclean handwashing practices. 

Beyond these tangible health benefits, there is a renewed sense of dignity and pride within the home. The children take ownership of their hygiene, reminding each other to wash hands after school or before meals. Jabulane feels empowered as a parent, knowing he is providing a safer, healthier environment for his family; a small but profound change that touches every aspect of their lives.

“Truly, this gesture is more than just being gifted soap and a tap, they are gifts of care, hope, and safety for my family,” - Jabulane

For Jabulane, these gifts carry a meaning that goes far beyond words. “Truly, this gesture is more than just being gifted soap and a tap, they are gifts of care, hope, and safety for my family,” he shared, his voice full of gratitude.

“We are so thankful to World Vision and the people who gave us these gifts. They may not know us personally, yet somehow, they understood exactly what we needed. Their kindness is not only changing our daily lives, but it is also restoring our confidence, our dignity”.

“We are so thankful to World Vision and the people who gave us these gifts. - Jabulane

In Ha-Senkoase, the story of  Jabulane's family is just one among many. It is living proof that small acts of generosity can create lasting transformation. A bar of soap and a simple tap may seem ordinary to some, but here, they are profound gifts of life, hope, and renewed possibility.