… as the UN agency inks deal with Vodacom to support children

LINEO MABEKEBEKE and

LeNA

MASERU – A partnership of UNICEF and Vodacom Lesotho Foundation on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at expanding support to the most vulnerable of the country’s children and youth. Vodacom Lesotho is mandated to invest in critical areas of development, in line with government’s national strategic development plan. It supports sustainable initiatives that drive social change, improve people’s lives and solve pressing social needs.

The Foundation has introduced a number of initiatives to drive its new strategic objective of becoming a technology-oriented Foundation, combining charity work with technology to deliver transformational projects that improve and enhance the living conditions of Basotho.

Since 2009, the Foundation has invested over M150 Million, in the areas of health, education, social welfare, gender equity and women empowerment, youth empowerment, safety and security; in partnership with Vodafone Foundation, has committed to invest a further M120 million, into Lesotho over the next five years, in the areas of gender equality and economic development, education, and health Speaking at the MoU signature, UNICEF Lesotho Representative, Deepak Bhaskaran, said such long-term strategic collaborations of the private sector and development partners are hoped for tackling issues that disturb the well-being of a nation, citing the recent Ukraine and Russia war and the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said with the signing of the agreement, UNICEF welcomes Vodacom Lesotho Foundation’s continued support to promoting the rights of children and young people across the county. He further mentioned that as UNICEF, they are hoping for a long-term agreement which goes further for the betterment of vulnerable groups of Basotho children and youth. On behalf of the Managing Director of Vodacom Lesotho, ‘Mamoorosi Raditapole, said the partnership is going to be a fruitful one as both organizations have common areas such as education which each child has a right to.

She said in the two years of the agreement, both organizations are aiming at achieving a few factors that include access to acquirable education, be protected from violence and abuse and be able to receive information and assistance during emergencies such as drought, floods and disease outbreaks. Raditapole added that Vodacom Lesotho Foundation stands ready to continue with its support to UNICEF in the areas of their shared priorities. The partnership brings together UNICEF’s technical expertise and advocacy work with Vodacom Lesotho Foundation’s ‘connecting for good’ mandate. The partnership also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and emergency response in times of crisis.