On Saturday, October 13th the Basotho Beat Bus arrived at St. Elizabeth Training Institute to transport fifty students, two teachers and a Peace Corps Volunteer to the Mants'ase Children's Home. The Home is approximately 15 kms from Mohale's Hoek in Qhalasi Village.

The late Father Patrick Maebane, M.B.K. founded the Home in 1978 because of a need to care for parentless children. There are thirty children between the ages of 5 - 22 who call Mants'sae their home. It provides basic accommodations to the children and developmental activities in order to equip the children for their future. An emphasis is placed on caring for each other. The older students look after the younger, help with homework, guidance, etc. At present, it is the only registered home for children functioning as an orphanage in the southern region of Lesotho.

Murray Goodlett, a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer and Director of the Facility gave the welcoming speech to the visitors. He requested that they share their knowledge and skills with the children. He told them not to be strangers and hoped that the tradition of St. Elizabeth Training Institute and Mants'ase Children's Home would continue their partnership.

The St. Elizabeth Training Institute students brought boxes of clothing for the residents and provisions for a braai. The children and students went for a hike, played netball, basketball and Frisbee.

The facility has many urgent needs such as donations of furniture and building repairs. Persons interested in assisting the Home can leave a message for the Director, Murray Goodlett at the Hotel Mount Maluti.

It was a warm and wonderful day. Mr. Goodlett thanked the students and teachers for spending their day at Mants'ase Children's Home. The children said their thanks. The Basotho Beat Bus headed back to Mohale's Hoek at 5pm.