…as Beautiful Gate children’s home turns 25
Seithati Motšoeneng
HER Majesty Queen ’Masenate Mohato Seeiso has called for collective action to protect and empower children, saying the future of Lesotho depends on how Basotho nurture and invest in the younger generation.
Her Majesty made the remarks on Friday during the 25th anniversary celebrations of Beautiful Gate Lesotho, held at Victory Hall in Maseru under the theme, “Invest in a Child, Transform a Nation”.
“The future of every nation is determined by how it nurtures, protects, educates and empowers its children,” Queen ‘Masenate said.
“When we invest in a child, we are not simply changing one life. We are shaping the future of families, communities and, ultimately, the destiny of an entire nation.”
She described Beautiful Gate’s 25-year journey as a legacy of hope, compassion, resilience and transformation, noting that what began as a response to the needs of vulnerable children has grown into programmes covering education, healthcare, psychosocial support and skills development.
“Children who once faced uncertainty have become confident young people with aspirations, skills and hope for the future. No investment yields greater returns than investment in the life of a child.”
Her Majesty also challenged the corporate sector to go beyond charity and become active partners in nation-building.
“By supporting programmes that nurture children and strengthen families, you become partners in nation-building,” she said.
Minister of Gender, Youth and Social Development, Pitso Lesaoana, echoed the call for partnership, saying the milestone represented “25 years of compassion, resilience, partnership, sacrifice and unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society, being the children”.
Mr Lesaoana said child welfare remained a national development priority.
“Children are the foundation upon which every prosperous nation is built. When we invest in children’s health, education, protection and emotional well-being, we invest in stronger families, safer communities, sustainable economic growth and a brighter future for Lesotho.”
He commended Beautiful Gate for complementing government efforts through alternative care, family strengthening, and adoption and foster care services, adding that the ministry remains committed to strengthening social protection and child protection systems.
He also paid tribute to caregivers, social workers, donors and volunteers.
“Congratulations to Beautiful Gate on 25 years of service, love, compassion and transformation. May God continue to bless your work,” he said.
Beautiful Gate Managing Director, Lindiwe Kili Kirstein, reflected on the organisation’s growth from a modest two-roomed rented house in Maseru West, which cared for just seven children with two staff members and two volunteers, into one of the country’s leading child and family care organisations.
“By God’s grace, over the past 25 years, 674 children have been cared for in the centre and hundreds more have been assisted in communities,” she said.
“But I’m sure we have cared for more than a thousand children because many of these were supported within their families and communities.”
Ms Kirstein said 210 children had been reunified with their biological families, while 309 had found permanent homes through local and international adoption. Another 14 children are currently in foster care.
Beautiful Gate currently provides full-time care to 62 children, supported by numerous volunteers. The centre now operates five baby houses and can accommodate up to 35 children at a time. Children facing various vulnerabilities are admitted with the ultimate goal of placing them in permanent family environments.
“We work closely with the Ministry of Social Development, where our children are either reunified with their families or adopted both locally and internationally,” she said.
“We currently have agreements with four countries where our children can be adopted – the United States, Canada, the Netherlands and Sweden.”
She said the organisation adopts a holistic approach to childcare, addressing the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs of children, many of whom have experienced trauma.
Beautiful Gate also operates a play therapy centre staffed by coordinators who assist children in reaching developmental milestones.
Looking ahead, Ms Kirstein said the organisation is expanding its community-based programmes and developing a new centre in Peka, Leribe.
The facility will provide specialised services for children and young people with disabilities, rehabilitation programmes, sustainable agriculture initiatives and family empowerment projects.
“This is not simply about building facilities; it is about building futures. Our prayer is not mainly that Beautiful Gate grows bigger, but that our impact grows deeper.”
She thanked the government, churches, corporate partners, donors and volunteers for supporting the organisation over the past 25 years.
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