UNICEF to allocate $1.2 million for orphans and vulnerable children in Lesotho

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and two local organizations will allocate .2 million to impulse an integrated social protection system for orphans and other vulnerable children in Lesotho, the United Nations announced on Monday.

World Vision Lesotho and Sentebale are the two groups that will use the funds for projects aiming at a vision for a society where all vulnerable children are free from discrimination, live in dignity and have their rights fulfilled.

The agreement is part of the Government of Lesotho, European Commission and UNICEF’s Orphan and Vulnerable Children’s (OVC) Programme (2007-2011), which seeks to empower 60,000 such children to cope with their challenging circumstances through interventions such as education, health, psychosocial assistance, life skills, food and nutrition and social protection.

“The broader OVC program, which is funded by the EU, seeks to reduce children’s vulnerabilities, especially in light of the many challenges posed by HIV and AIDS, and ensure that we break the cycle of poverty that is passed from one generation to the next,” said Naqib Safi, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Lesotho.

World Vision Lesotho will receive 0,000 to provide approximately 60,000 orphans and vulnerable children with education, health, protection, HIV prevention and food and nutrition. Sentebale, a charity supporting orphan and vulnerable children founded by United Kingdom’s Prince Harry and Lesotho’s Prince Seeiso, will receive 7,000 to strengthen its works.

In April 2009, the Lesotho Child Grants program was launched has reached over 3,300 orphans and vulnerable children living in 1,250 households with a regular quarterly payment of about .

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