Country facts:
- Capital city – Maseru
- Population – 2 million
- Life expectancy – 54.37 years
- Unemployment rate – 23.48%
- Below poverty line – 57.1%
Habitat Facts
- Habitat started in Lesotho in 2001.
- Individuals served in FY2019 – 3,350
- Through new construction – 250
- Through repairs – 2,275
- Through professional services – 825
- Volunteers hosted in FY2019 – 857
The housing need in Lesotho
Lesotho is one of the least developed countries in the world with 57.1% of the population living below the poverty line. The rate of HIV and AIDS in adults is estimated at 25.6%, which triggers rapidly increasing numbers of orphans and other vulnerable children. More than 27% of children under 18 are orphans.
Most housing structures in Lesotho do not meet any local standards for decent living. Most houses are built out of mud, stones or sticks and often lack proper ventilation due to absence of windows. Safety in such houses is minimal as the doors are of poor quality and often lack proper door locks. Land ownership disputes related to inheritance rights often lead to vulnerable groups becoming victims of disinheritance and property and land grabbing.
How Habitat addresses the need
Vulnerable groups housing
Habitat Lesotho helps build two-room homes with households comprised of orphans, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. The homes include safe sanitation facilities. We also advocate for security of land tenure and initiate ownership processes for vulnerable households to ensure they legally own the land before the home is built. All selected future homeowners participate in the building of their home, including collecting water, helping gather locally available materials (stones, for example) and construction activities under the close guidance of a building supervisor.
With a goal of transforming communities, prospective homeowners are further empowered through various trainings on inheritance rights and security of tenure to guard against property grabbing and disinheritance, personal hygiene and home maintenance. Knowledge gained through inheritance and property rights trainings has sparked an increase in the number of wills registered through various Habitat projects.
Advocacy
Habitat Lesotho advocates on behalf of vulnerable groups by disseminating information about property and inheritance rights and security of tenure, and hosting call-in radio programs to raise awareness on the same subjects.
Trainings on property and inheritance rights as well as security of tenure are also offered to households served together with their community members with the aim of reducing unlawful evictions, property grabbing and/or disinheritance.
What you can do
DONATE
Go to habitat.org/donate and designate your gift to Habitat Lesotho.
VOLUNTEER
Join one of the scheduled Global Village volunteer construction trips to Lesotho or lead your own. For more information: habitat.org/gv
TITHE
Establish a strong and rewarding tithe partnership to help build houses globally. Quote 863400, LESOTHO on your checks sent to: Habitat for Humanity International, Attn: Affiliate Tithe, 322 West Lamar St., Americus, GA 31709
CONTACT
Lebohang Mariti-Lijane
Habitat Lesotho senior operations manager
Bohlokoa Mokhotho
Habitat Lesotho advocacy and fundraising manager
Colleen Hughes
Habitat Europe, Middle East and Africa program development manager
