Lesotho

Context at a glance

Lesotho is a small, mountainous country completely surrounded by South Africa and although it shares strong economic ties with its neighbour, it maintains its own unique political, social and cultural identity.

Lesotho ’s predominant natural resource is water, harvested from high in the Maluti Mountains and sold to neighbouring South Africa, generating royalties that are a significant source of income.

Civil disorder in 1998 destroyed around 80% of the commercial infrastructure in Maseru and two other major towns. Reduced job opportunities in South African mines also put pressure on an already faltering economy. Many families are in need of safe, decent and affordable places to live.

Habitat for Humanity programme

HFH Lesotho launched its programme in 2001 and has built more than 100 houses. It is also working on special partnership projects to improve the housing and living conditions of orphans and other vulnerable children.

In 2002 Habitat Lesotho began building in the urban district of Maseru, where countless families lived in extremely overcrowded, unsafe, and unhealthy conditions. As many as fifteen families often share one latrine.

Read about the Habitat for Humanity and Sentebale partnership in Lesotho.

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