For Whom :
Girls from the ages of 15-20 years old with grave family problems who do not have the possibility to pay for studies.

Goal of the project :
Give the possibility to study and learn an occupation for girls who would otherwise not be able, paying for the registration at the school, the necessary materials for study, the uniforms, food and health assistance.

Goal of the course of study :
Aid the girls to believe in their own potential and to develop their own abilities, through intellectual and physical means, in a way which gives them an opportunity in the work field. Furthermore, there is the intention to develop in the students a sense of dignity and a professional ethic with the goal of becoming independent workers. The subjects that they study at the Mazarello Center are: English, mathematics, economics, cutting and sewing with a sewing machine, shirt-making, crochet, embroidery, and leadership training.

Situation of the country:
Lesotho (which means "Reign of Heaven") is a small independent state since 1966 with a Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchy which is located in the interior of South Africa with a size of 20.355 sq Km, the capital is Maseru.
The population is almost completely Sotho, and 80% of the inhabitants are Christian.
The official language of Lesotho is English. There are some textile and shoe industries: only one tenth of the land is able to be cultivated because the area is mountainous, the agriculture is for sustenance.
Because of the difficult economic situation of the country (45% unemployment), the head of the family is often forced to leave the family and search for work in the state of South Africa, often without being able to return home. 50% of the female population is illiterate and the possibility to find work for them is scarce. They also do not have the possibility to cultivate crops for the needs of the family.
AIDS is the most common disease; many of the victims are among the children and the adults. There are many adolescents and children that are without parents, and are forced to make do to be able to eat something, the major part of the time without an adequate education.

The center :
Mazzarello Training Center, Saint Luke Mission, Maputsoe, Lesotho

Person responsible for the project on the premises:
Sr. Ana Maria Maniero

Group responsible for the project in Italy:
Fondazione Volontariato Giovani e Solidarietà-Onlus
Via Gregorio VII, 133
00165 Roma
tel. +39.06. 39379861
fax. +39. 06. 632001
email: coord.sos@vides.org
Duration of the project:
3 years

Cost:
150 Euro annually to cover the expenses of scholastic fees, uniforms, books, and didactic materials.

Furthermore, an additional 120 Euro annually will also guarantee that the girl receives a complete daily meal for an entire year.