Case Studies
Sentebale - Lerato
Lerato had a very difficult start in life. Her mother lived in an extremely remote area in the mountains, at least two hours by horse from the nearest town. With severe complications giving birth to twins, she died just one day after having them. So far from help, the smaller twin died of starvation when she was less than two weeks old.
Lerato’s father couldn’t cope with a new and vulnerable baby; he already had five boys to care for on his own so when she was just 14 days old, he brought Lerato to the Semongkong Children’s Centre. She weighed just 2.3 kilograms. So small and weak, it was only with relentless care and attention that Lerato started to grow strong.
She is now a lovely, chubby little girl who is walking and starting to talk. Since she was brought to the Centre, her father has now died, but she is part of the Semonkong family and she gets endless love and cuddles from Patrick and Tara and the housemothers here.