What You Need to Know
Banna Khotla, in partnership with Touching Tiny Lives (TTL), will host public gatherings focused on child protection issues beginning January. The initiative aims to engage men in their roles as protectors and providers within families and communities, with events planned twice monthly until May. This partnership marks a significant step in promoting child welfare in Lesotho.
Africa-Press – Lesotho. A males Forum commonly known as ‘Banna Khotla’ in partnership with Touching Tiny Lives (TTL) will conduct a series of public gatherings on child protection issues starting from January next year.
The Forum’s Vice Chairperson, Mr. Jonase Mahlomola said the purpose of the gatherings planned to be held twice a month is to further remind men of their Godly role as providers and protectors in their families.
Mr. Mahlomola explained that it is also to increase male engagement on issues related to protection of children in respective families and communities.
He mentioned that according to the plan, Sekoka and Nkotoane villages will be visited when the new year begins, adding that the gatherings will be held from January until May and expected to resume after the winter season.
On the other hand, the TTL Managing Director Ms. Nthabeleng Lephoto said TTL as a foundation taking care of children, formed partnership with Banna Khotla to strengthen male engagement in the protection of children for proper growth.
Ms. Lephoto said the foundation decided to approach Banna Khotla and work with them to promote children’s protection to other men in the communities.
Banna Khotla was formed early this year and has over 70 members from different walks of life who share problems they face in their day to day living for promotion of positive and healthy living.
Their slogan is ‘One Man, One Heart’.
TTL was established in May 2004 by Mr. Kenneth Storen who was a Peace Corp volunteer deployed in Mokhotlong at that time and began the foundation with two children after they were identified not to be in good health conditions from villages in the outskirts of Mokhotlong town.
Since establishment, the foundation has been dedicated to helping orphaned and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS and malnutrition by providing a safe home as well as implementing an outreach programme to monitor children in communities after receiving the necessary support under the safe home programme.
It has also helped over 3600 children through its two programmes being Safe Home and Outreach.
This is the first partnership of its kind forged between TTL and Banna Khotla.
Touching Tiny Lives (TTL) was founded in 2004 by Kenneth Storen, a Peace Corps volunteer, to assist orphaned and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS and malnutrition. The organization has since provided a safe home and outreach programs, benefiting over 3,600 children. Banna Khotla, established earlier this year, consists of over 70 members dedicated to promoting positive living and addressing community challenges. This partnership aims to enhance male involvement in child protection efforts.
