Latest Press Release
Sentebale appoints new full-time Chief Executive
3rd April 2009
Sentebale, the charity for orphaned and vulnerable children founded by Prince Harry and Lesotho’s Prince Seeiso, has appointed its first full time Chief Executive, Kedge Martin.
Mrs Martin, who will formally take up her role full-time in June, joins from WellChild, which she developed from a small paediatric research charity into a national charity for sick children. Previously she has worked for the NSPCC, in private business and political lobbying.
Charles Denton, Chair of Trustees said:
“We are delighted to have appointed Kedge Martin, who brings with her a wealth of experience in growing and developing organisations. The Trustees, Patrons and I very much look forward to working with her to achieve Sentebale’s ambitious plans to transform the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children in Lesotho."
Kedge Martin said:
“I am really looking forward to joining Sentebale at this exciting time in the charity’s development. Since it began in 2006, it has helped hundreds of children through funding and support of grass roots programmes working closely with community leaders. But there is so much more still to do; Lesotho is one of the poorest countries in the world and has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS.
“Thousands of children are orphaned, not only struggling to survive without a parent’s care but often unable to attend school as they are forced to stay at home to care for other family members. Sentebale’s mission is to deliver long term change to the lives of these most needy and often forgotten children.”
www.sentebale.org
Notes to Editors
Sentebale – registered charity no. 1113544
1. Sentebale works with community leaders and grass roots organisations to transform the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in Lesotho.
2. There are more than 160,000 orphans who have lost one or both parents[1].
3. Lesotho is one of the world’s poorest countries with an estimated adult HIV prevalence rate (15 – 49) years of 23% of the population[2].
4. It is estimated that more than 12,000 children (0-14 years old) are living with HIV though fewer than 12% are receiving ART[3].
5. More than 70% (200,000) of teenagers are not in school, not developing skills and receiving no HIV prevention work.
[1] UNAIDs Children and AIDS Third Stocktaking Report, 2008
[2] UNAIDs Children and AIDS Third Stocktaking Report 2008
[3] UNAIDs Children and AIDS Third Stocktaking Report 2008