A heart for helping children build a hopeful future led Sebongile Mabusa to become an educator. A native of Lesotho, Sebongile teaches upper-grade levels in our education program in Maseru. “The kids’ love, my passion for them, and the wish to be part of their solid life foundation were the driving forces for this choice of career.”
Education for Human Trafficking Prevention
A solid life foundation for children truly is the aim of Beautiful Dream Society’s childcare and education program in Lesotho, Africa. With an orphan population of over 150,000 due to widespread HIV/AIDS, Lesotho’s kids are extremely susceptible to the tactics of traffickers who prey on vulnerability. Traffickers can spot a child in desparate need of physical necessities, offer that child a “job,” and whisk the child away. Often, there’s no one to notice the child is gone.
Our childcare program stops this cycle in its tracks. By offering physical care, loving community, and the opportunity to learn, the kids in our Lesotho program become far less vulnerable to traffickers’ tactics. Launched in fall of 2014, our education program is a huge part of our human trafficking prevention efforts in Lesotho. Sebongile is one of our teachers in Lesotho.
The Laura Ingalls Wilder of Lesotho: Teaching Multiple Grade Levels in One Room
Sebongile heard of Beautiful Dream Society from her husband’s co-worker, who also happened to volunteer as a nurse for BDS. As a woman of faith, Sebongile was drawn to the opportunity to work in a Christian education setting, helping orphaned children learn and grow.
Creativity in her teaching approach is a must for Sebongile. She teaches all school subjects to seven students, aged 9-17. “Having so many different ages and levels, sometimes it is hard to explain a concept, so I have to come up with different ways to make sure everyone understands,” she says. Kids in BDS’s Lesotho childcare program benefit greatly from our onsite education program. Our teachers can tailor lessons to each child’s personal level. Sebongile excels in providing this type of quality, individualized education to her students.
Loving Every Minute
Learning is a two-way street for Sebongile. When asked about her favorite part of working with the children, she explains, “I love learning from them. Children think differently than adults and are always very honest!” She enjoys reading and playing with the children in our program.
Sebongile does indeed play a crucial role in the lives of the children in our Lesotho childcare program. Her skills, love, and care help them build a solid life foundation and propel them toward a more hopeful future.