LESOTHO

Commonly referred to as the Kingdom in the Sky, Lesotho sits as the fifth highest country in the world with a base latitude of 4,593ft (1,400m). Painted in rock art and lush wildlife, this Kingdom-based monarchy is a landlocked country the size of Maryland and is “enclaved” by South Africa. While the population is known for their generational peace and kindness, they struggle to maintain their physical health on a daily basis as the country struggles with poor infrastructure, increasing sickness, and economic dependency on its surrounding neighbor. 

Most critically, 1 in 4 people annually test positive for HIV/AIDS, leaving Lesotho to be the second highest affected nation in the world. As AIDS claims the lives of thousands each year in Lesotho, their children and widows are left to fend for themselves and are often ineligible to receive federal funding due to lack of documentation, such as a birth certificate. This phenomenon contributes to 57 percent living in poverty, with another 25 percent susceptible to falling into poverty as well.

Agriculture is the backbone of Lesotho’s economy, however the country is only able to produce 20 percent of the population’s dietary needs. Of its two million people, most people do not have reliable access to clean water, and 25 percent are not employed. Lesotho is entirely reliant on South Africa for 85 percent of its economic activity, including the imports of the majority of their agricultural inputs and food.

Outside the Bowl’s reliable production and supply of VitaKidz provides the Lesotho people with the proper nutrition not only for their children, but also for their clinically ill communities. In saving parents from succumbing to their illnesses by providing high-content vitamins, we prevent further generations of children from becoming orphaned.

VAN ROOYEN’S GATE

In early 2022, Outside the Bowl South Africa began supplying Lesotho with VitaKidz through the Van Rooyen’s Gate Border Post, located on the South African side of their shared border. In the first three months, 170,000 portions were delivered and VitaKidz was dubbed “miracle porridge” for its life saving qualities for both children, AIDS victims, and other chronically ill patients.

Outside the Bowl is hoping to make a permanent Instant Meal Distribution Center (IMDC) for the thousands of people in Lesotho and the Free State region of South Africa in dire need of food. We will be working closely with Pastor Johan Meiring of Touch Me Lord Ministries, who has proven his dedication to bettering the quality of life of children in Lesotho.