Sentebale
Encyclopedia
Sentebale is a charity set up in April 2006 by Prince Seeiso of Lesotho
and the Prince Harry of Wales
, the younger son of Diana, Princess of Wales
and Charles, Prince of Wales
, to help vulnerable children and young people in Lesotho
, particularly those who have been orphaned as a result of HIV
and AIDS
. The new organization was a step in Prince Harry's pledge to continue his mother's work with disadvantaged children. Prince Seeiso's mother, Queen Mamohato, a much-loved figure in her country, had died in 2003. Harry told the Concert for Diana
website: "Sentebale means 'forget me not'. We chose the name as a memorial to the charity work of our own mothers, as well as a reminder to us all not to forget Lesotho or its children."
Sentebale is a charity registered in the UK, and with its chief executive in the UK, but carries out its charitable work in Lesotho.
The charity
is one of the beneficiaries of proceeds from a July 1, 2007 Concert for Diana
in the United Kingdom
, organized by Prince Harry and his brother Prince William to celebrate their mother's life and commemorate her achievements on what would have been her 46th birthday. However most of Sentebale's initial funds came from taking over the British Red Cross
Lesotho Fund, raised by public appeal.
's Human Poverty Index Scale,’ says the World Health Organization
. With a population of 2.1 million and 270,000 of its adults estimated to be living with HIV, Lesotho is facing a national disaster.
The Executive Director based in Lesotho is Bahlakoana Manyanye, who joined the charity in May 2010. Manyanye has been part of the Sentebale team since 2007 and was previously the Director of Planning and Administration.
In 2011 Larry Hirst
, the former Chairman of IBM Europe, Middle East and Africa
, and Nigel Cox, a former audit manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers
, were appointed to vacancies on the board of Sentebale.
Sentebale supports a number of projects, which include:
, the Lesotho Child Counselling Unit, which Prince Harry had visited in the name of the charity, remained without promised funding to provide basic operational requirements.
In 2009 Lord Ashcroft, the Conservative Party
deputy chairman, donated £250,000 to Sentebale to remedy financial difficulties at the charity.
Prince Seeiso of Lesotho
Prince Seeiso Bereng Seeiso of Lesotho is the younger brother of Lesotho's king, Letsie III, and son of the southern African country's late King Moshoeshoe II and the late Queen 'Mamohato Bereng Seeiso...
and the Prince Harry of Wales
Prince Harry of Wales
Prince Henry of Wales , commonly known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and fourth grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
, the younger son of Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
and Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, to help vulnerable children and young people in Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
, particularly those who have been orphaned as a result of HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
and AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
. The new organization was a step in Prince Harry's pledge to continue his mother's work with disadvantaged children. Prince Seeiso's mother, Queen Mamohato, a much-loved figure in her country, had died in 2003. Harry told the Concert for Diana
Concert for Diana
Concert for Diana was a concert held at the then new Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, on 1 July 2007, which would have been her 46th birthday; 31 August that year brought the 10th anniversary of her death...
website: "Sentebale means 'forget me not'. We chose the name as a memorial to the charity work of our own mothers, as well as a reminder to us all not to forget Lesotho or its children."
Sentebale is a charity registered in the UK, and with its chief executive in the UK, but carries out its charitable work in Lesotho.
The charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
is one of the beneficiaries of proceeds from a July 1, 2007 Concert for Diana
Concert for Diana
Concert for Diana was a concert held at the then new Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, on 1 July 2007, which would have been her 46th birthday; 31 August that year brought the 10th anniversary of her death...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, organized by Prince Harry and his brother Prince William to celebrate their mother's life and commemorate her achievements on what would have been her 46th birthday. However most of Sentebale's initial funds came from taking over the British Red Cross
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom branch of the worldwide impartial humanitarian organisation the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with over 31,000 volunteers and 2,600 staff. At the heart of their work...
Lesotho Fund, raised by public appeal.
Background to Lesotho
With a per capita income of US $764 in 2009, Lesotho is among the 49 Least Developed Countries and is ranked 156th on the United Nations Development ProgrammeUnited Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
's Human Poverty Index Scale,’ says the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
. With a population of 2.1 million and 270,000 of its adults estimated to be living with HIV, Lesotho is facing a national disaster.
Sentebale staff
The Chief Executive of Sentebale is Kedge Martin who joined in 2009. Before joining Sentebale Kedge Martin was the CEO of WellChild, a charity that provides care, support and research to long term, chronically sick children across the UK.The Executive Director based in Lesotho is Bahlakoana Manyanye, who joined the charity in May 2010. Manyanye has been part of the Sentebale team since 2007 and was previously the Director of Planning and Administration.
In 2011 Larry Hirst
Larry Hirst
Larry Hirst CBE is the former Chairman of IBM Europe, Middle East and Africa. He was appointed to this position in April, 2008 and retired from IBM in July 2010....
, the former Chairman of IBM Europe, Middle East and Africa
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
, and Nigel Cox, a former audit manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest professional services firm measured by revenues and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms....
, were appointed to vacancies on the board of Sentebale.
Projects
Sentebale works in four key areas:- Care: Working with and for local communities to provide effective and efficient care for orphans and vulnerable children.
- Health: Helping Lesotho's children tackle the HIV/AIDS pandemic and receive the treatment and general healthcare that they need.
- Education: Giving orphans and vulnerable children education, skills and training to make the most of their futures.
- Special Needs: Providing Care for Lesotho's most disadvantaged and vulnerable children.
Sentebale supports a number of projects, which include:
- The Lesotho Child Counselling Unit, a safe house where abused children may stay while the courts decide on their cases. Sentebale worked with UK development and disaster relief charity Article 25Article 25Article 25 is a UK registered charity that manages sustainable architecture projects in areas of extreme poverty and disaster.-History:Established in 2006 as ‘Architects for Aid’, the name was changed to Article 25 in 2008, making reference to the principle of the 25th Article of the UNs...
who lent their expertise in the design and construction phases of the build - The Mants'ase Children's Home, the only children's home and care facility in southern Lesotho.
- The Maloti Crop Share scheme, which helps increase food security for 33 villages and their orphans and vulnerable children. Government officials have visited the project and are broadcasting lessons learned from its best practice across Lesotho on local radio.
- The supply of motorcycle ambulanceMotorcycle ambulanceMotorcycle ambulances are a type of emergency vehicle which either carries a solo paramedic or first responder to a patient; or is used with a trailer or sidecar for transporting patients...
s, which can overcome the country's lack of transport infrastructure.
Criticism
The charity's first accounts published in March 2008 showed that despite raising more than £1 million in the first 18 months of its operation, just £84,000 was handed over to projects in Lesotho. In the same period however, Sentebale spent £190,000 on salaries, £86,000 on a website, £26,000 on equipping its office in Maseru and £47,000 on work done before the charity was formally established. Sentebale's director in Lesotho, Harper Brown, had received a salary and benefits package worth between £90,000 and £100,000 per year. Meanwhile, according to the Daily MailDaily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
, the Lesotho Child Counselling Unit, which Prince Harry had visited in the name of the charity, remained without promised funding to provide basic operational requirements.
In 2009 Lord Ashcroft, the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
deputy chairman, donated £250,000 to Sentebale to remedy financial difficulties at the charity.