Who are the people?
Lesotho’s population is largely comprised of Basotho people, who are of Bantu origin. Sesotho and English are the country’s official languages.

In spite of generally poor agricultural conditions and a lack of equipment, 80 percent of the people survive by farming. Unfortunately, overdevelopment of Lesotho has created an environmental tragedy. Many hillsides are totally bare. Clearing of trees, overgrazing, shallow soil, steep terrain, and heavy seasonal rain have all contributed to severe soil erosion, a subsequent loss of agriculture. Nevertheless, for many people, the only option is to try to make a living from working the land.

Corn is Lesotho’s leading crop, but wheat, sorghum, barley, and beans also are important. Because of low crop yields, however, Lesotho must import food from other countries, primarily South Africa. Cattle, ponies, sheep, and goats are raised for domestic purposes, while wool and mohair are the major agricultural exports.

Primary education in Lesotho is not free. While Lesotho has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa, only about two-thirds of school-age children attend class and very few advance beyond primary school.
Lesotho’s population is largely comprised of Basotho people, who are of Bantu origin. Sesotho and

Country Comparison	Lesotho	United States
Population	1.8 million	295.4 million
Land Mass	11,720 sq. mi.	3,537,439 sq. miles
Life Expectancy	35 years	78 years
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000)	61	7
Literacy Rate	81%	97%
Primary School Enrollment	65 %	92%
Access to Safe Water	76%	100%
Average Annual Income (GNI per capita)	$740	$41,400

Religion

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What is it like to live there?

Lesotho is a small, landlocked country surrounded entirely by South Africa. Life is a struggle for almost everyone due to poor farmland, lack of industry, and limited natural resources. Lesotho is heavily dependent upon South Africa for manufactured goods, transportation links, and employment. With few jobs in Lesotho, many men go to work in South Africa’s gold mines. This means women have had to take on more responsibility for managing the households.

Lesotho’s climate contrasts with the hot conditions found in many African countries. Summers are warm, but because of the high altitude and the country’s position south of the equator, winters are cold. At times, temperatures even drop below zero.

Most of Lesotho is comprised of hills and mountains, leaving only 10 percent of the land suitable for agriculture. This makes survival difficult for the many families who try to make a living from the crops they grow. Two-thirds of domestic income is from subsistence farming.

Clean water is a valuable and limited commodity in Lesotho; nearly 25 percent of the population lacks access to safe water and waterborne diseases are common. Tragically, 1 of every 16 children dies before their first birthday.

• Equipping families and communities to care for orphans and vulnerable children while providing life-skills training to those affected by the AIDS pandemic.
• Providing school fees and constructing new classrooms to create a positive place for learning.
• Providing regular health care services for boys and girls.
• Training farmers in agricultural skills that will help them grow more nutritious foods for their families.
• Building roads to improve access between communities and increase the import and export of goods.
• Helping parents launch small businesses that will help them increase the standard of living for themselves and their children while improving the region’s economy.
• Encouraging spiritual nourishment through monthly prayer meetings for women and Bible studies for children.

• Pray that churches and families will respond to God's call to care for orphans and widows, especially those affected by the AIDS pandemic.
• Pray that your sponsored child might respond to God’s love and grace.
• Ask God to guide your sponsored child as he or she learns, grows, and moves toward a future full of hope and possibilities.
• Pray for God to protect the health of your sponsored child and his or her family.

Lesotho is participating in our "HopeChild" program to provide additional resources for children and families impacted by HIV/AIDS in this high prevalence region.