Limpho Sello
THE LESOTHO Electricity Company (LEC) has donated M20 000 worth of electricity units to the Beautiful Gate Orphanage in Thetsane, Maseru as part of its corporate social responsibility programme.
Beautiful Gate Lesotho is home to orphaned, abandoned and neglected children whose ages range from the newborn to seven years. 67 children are currently being cared for at the centre which has looked after more than 400 children over the course of the past 16 years.
Beautiful Gate Director, Lindiwe Kirstein thanked the LEC for the timely donation which was made ahead of the winter season when more electricity would be used for several tasks including warming the children’s rooms.
“The donation will help us meet the needs of the children,” Ms Kirstein said, adding, “This might be a once-off gift but the effects will be far reaching”.
She implored the nation and other local companies to follow LEC’s example and support the vulnerable children instead of waiting for the international community to make donations.
For his part, LEC Acting General Manager Corporative Services, Ben Masoabi said they were honoured to assist the orphanage.
Mr Masoabi said in as much as LEC was a company, it had a human face and it had to contribute to such programmes to brighten lives.
“It is for these reasons that LEC has drawn up the social responsibility programme to give and support the community that surrounds it.
“That is why we are here today to recognise and appreciate the neighborhood and also improve lives where we can and where we are found,” Mr Masoabi said.
He said LEC employees were Basotho and were therefore not strangers to the issues of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC).
“That is why we have given a helping hand to Beautiful Gate Orphanage after we received a request from them.”
“It is indeed a privilege to be given an opportunity to give. We know that blessed is the hand that gives,” Mr Masoabi said.