Implemented by: rise International

In Partnership With: AIT— Action Ireland Trust and Quinn Family Foundation

Date: 30/09/2025

Full View of Seboka Primary SchoolWritten By: Minah Lekau & Pusetso Booi

Background: A Community’s Hope, Challenged by Reality

Nestled in the heart of Ha Matala, a peri-urban area on the outskirts of Maseru, Lesotho, Seboka Primary School stands as a vital centre of education and hope. Serving more than 700 children from neighbouring villages, the school is more than just a place to learn; it’s a lifeline for hundreds of families who dream of a brighter future for their children. But for years, the daily reality inside Seboka’s gates painted a different, troubling picture.

Everyday Struggles: The Hidden Crisis

Despite the dedication of its teachers and the determination of its students, Seboka Primary School was plagued by unsafe and undignified learning conditions:

Nutritional Deficiency: For many learners, the school meal is the only food they receive all day, yet the lack of vegetables and balanced nutrition means it often fails to meet their basic dietary needs. This not only affects their physical development but also their ability to concentrate and learn. 

Unsafe Kitchen: Meals, essential for young learners’ health and focus, were prepared in an open, unsanitary space exposed to the elements. Rain or strong winds often brought meal preparation to a halt, leaving students hungry or forcing them to eat late, interrupting their studies and sapping their energy. Beyond these immediate challenges, the cooks themselves suffered from constant smoke inhalation due to the reliance on open wood fires, a serious health hazard, such as chronic respiratory issues, eye irritation, and long-term lung damage. This method of cooking also had environmental consequences, requiring the regular cutting down of trees for firewood and contributing to air pollution and deforestation.

Seboka Primary School kitchen 

Lack of Sanitation: The school’s few old pit latrines were overcrowded, unsafe, and lacked even the most basic privacy. Long queues formed at break time, and many children, especially girls, were forced to sacrifice their dignity or miss school during menstruation due to the lack of running water, privacy, and secure toilets.

Seboka Primary School toilets

Basic Needs Unmet: Every day, students arrived at Seboka without the guarantee of clean water, safe sanitation, or a reliable meal. These daily hardships not only affected their health and learning but also eroded their self-worth and hope for the future.

These conditions created a vicious cycle: unsafe facilities led to poor attendance and disengagement, further straining the school’s limited resources. Yet, throughout it all, Seboka’s staff and learners showed incredible resilience, refusing to give up on their right to a safe, nurturing environment. View the video here.

Turning the Page: A Call for Change

Seboka Primary School’s story is not unique—many schools across Lesotho face similar challenges. But it’s also a story of a community ready for transformation. At rise International, we believe that every child deserves to learn in safety and dignity.

What did we do next?

Discover how the Seboka story turned from neglect to hope—and how partnership, innovation, and community action made a difference.

Methodology: Needs-Based Implementation

The Seboka Primary School project used a rigorous, evidence-driven methodology focused on real needs, community participation, and sustainable change.

Needs Assessment: On-site evaluation identified urgent health, safety, and dignity gaps for 700+ students.

Participatory Design: Teachers, parents, students, and technical experts co-designed every solution, ensuring practical results and local ownership.

Evidence-Based Planning: Facilities were fully designed for durability, accessibility, and hygiene before construction.

Sustainable Implementation: Eco-friendly building methods and local capacity ensured long-term benefit.

Policy Alignment: The project advances Lesotho Ministry of Education’s National Guidelines for WASH in Schools (2022), School Health and Nutrition Policy (2019), and Education Sector Plan (2016–2026)—delivering on national goals for safe, healthy, and inclusive learning environments.

SDG Impact: Seboka’s upgrade directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

The Solution: School Infrastructure Upgrade

Action Ireland Trust – AIT at Seboka Primary School

Recognising the urgent need, rise International, thanks to the support of Action Ireland Trust and the Quinn Family Foundation, delivered a holistic infrastructure upgrade for Seboka Primary School. The project focused on sustainable, practical, and high-impact solutions to restore dignity and safety for every learner.

Key Upgrades Delivered:

✅ A New Kitchen

A modern kitchen was built using sustainable sandbag construction methods, was designed and constructed by the in loco fellows in collaboration with Ubu, a leading sandbag construction company from South Africa. This new facility now allows for safe, clean, and efficient food preparation for all students.

Kitchen built with sandbags

🚻 Flushing Toilets with Handwashing Stations

Three new toilet blocks—separate facilities for boys, girls, and teachers—were constructed. Each block is equipped with flushing toilets and handwashing stations, finally providing safe, private, dignified, and hygienic sanitation for all.

💧 Reliable Borehole Water System

A borehole water system was installed, ensuring a reliable and clean water supply for drinking, sanitation, and daily school operations. This is a foundational shift for health, hygiene, and overall school functioning.

💧Rainwater harvesting System 

A rainwater harvesting system was implemented to promote water sustainability on site. Collected rainwater is used for everyday needs such as hand washing, cleaning, and watering plants, reducing reliance on external water sources and supporting a more self-sufficient and eco-friendly environment.

🌱 Greenhouse Food Garden

Two new greenhouses and food gardens now support the school’s feeding program, providing fresh vegetables for meals. Excess produce is sold in local markets, raising some income for the school. Beyond nutrition and generating some income for the school, the garden serves as a practical, hands-on educational tool—teaching students about sustainability, agriculture, and environmental stewardship.

Impact Highlight

🌟Number of Lives Impacted;

Over 700 students and staff now benefit from improved school infrastructure, including access to safe sanitation, clean water, and hygienic food preparation facilities, and a food garden that supports nutrition and learning

• The kitchen contributes to improved efficiency and reduced food insecurity by streamlining food preparation and ensuring better resource utilisation

“The kitchen has completely changed the way we serve our students. Meals are now clean, safe, and always ready on time. It’s such a relief to know our children are eating healthy food every day, it gives them the strength to focus, learn, and grow without the constant worry of hunger.”

                                           Teacher, Victor Mosheoa

🪑 Improved Health, Hygiene, and Dignity

The construction of new separate toilet blocks and handwash station facilities for girls, boys, and teachers has dramatically improved sanitation and privacy at Seboka Primary School. They are hygienic, safe, and accessible for all students.

“Thanks to your support, our new toilets have changed everything! I feel safe, comfortable, and proud to be at school every day. Your help has made my school a place where I want to be, thank you, Student, Ts’epo Molise

🍽️ Financial Impact

The school’s new greenhouse food garden is transforming lives. Fresh vegetables like cabbage and peppers not only boost our school feeding program, but also generate over M1,000/$60 per month in income each month through community sales.                                

📈 Infrastructure Resilience

The kitchen is fully functional and structurally sound; however, high electricity costs pose a challenge to its regular use. Similarly, while the toilets are in good condition, the borehole does not yield enough water to support daily use. As a result, the toilets are only usable when sufficient rainwater is collected through the harvesting system. 

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to Rise International, AIT, and the Quinn Family Foundation for the incredible transformation they’ve brought to our school. The new kitchen, toilets, borehole, and greenhouse have changed our daily lives, giving us dignity, safety, and hope. What you have given us is so much more than infrastructure; you’ve given our children a real chance to learn, grow, and dream. We are truly thankful for your support.” Principal Mafaesa Mosia

            What’s Next?

While Seboka Primary School’s transformation is a powerful example of what’s possible, hundreds of schools across Lesotho remain in urgent need of similar support.

• Out of approximately 1,478 primary schools in Lesotho, at least 15% still lack basic toilet facilities, and many more operate without reliable water or safe, hygienic kitchens.
  
• Large-scale initiatives are underway, but the gap remains significant, especially for schools in rural and underserved communities.
  rise International is committed to scaling this impact.

Our Next Steps:

• Expanding Reach: We aim to replicate Seboka’s success by upgrading infrastructure at more schools most in need, with a focus on safe sanitation, clean water, and resilient kitchens.
  
• Strengthening Partnerships: Working with Lesotho’s Ministry of Education, local communities, and committed partners, as we seek to leverage resources and expertise for greater, lasting change.
  
• Ensuring Sustainability: Training local teams and embedding maintenance plans to keep new facilities in excellent condition for years to come.
  
• Measuring Impact: Ongoing monitoring and feedback will help us continually improve and demonstrate real, long-term benefits for learners.
  

With your support, we can help ensure that every child in Lesotho learns in safety and dignity—one school at a time.

Implemented by:  rise International | Funded by Sentebale Project

🏡 Background: A Community Rooted in Resilience

Phelisanong Children’s Centre, located in the remote mountains of Pitseng, Northern Lesotho, Southern Africa, was founded in 2001 by a group of villagers living with disabilities and HIV/AIDS. Their vision was bold: to create a safe, inclusive space for orphans, children with disabilities, and those affected by chronic illness. Today, the centre provides care and support to over 200 vulnerable children with disabilities and their families.

Despite its inspiring mission, the centre faced critical infrastructure challenges. Meals for hundreds of children residing at the centre and learners at the school on site, were prepared outdoors, every day, rain, snow, or shine! Caregivers woke at 4 a.m. to collect firewood and cook under harsh conditions, placing immense strain on already overburdened staff. Moreover, the centre’s main water supply was cut off, forcing children to bathe in basins and rendering bathroom facilities unusable.

The situation compromised not only operational efficiency but also the hygiene, dignity, and well-being of the children.

Cooking station: Before

🛠️ The Solution: Dignity Through Design

In 2019, an NGO called Sentebale commissioned rise International, to undertake a comprehensive infrastructure upgrade tailored to Phelisanong’s needs. 

 Newly upgraded kitchen featuring modern finishes and enhanced functionality

Reliable water supply: The foundation of community well-being

New upgraded bathroom

🧳 Methodology: Community at the Centre

From the beginning, the project followed a participatory approach. rise conducted a detailed baseline assessment in consultation with community members and caregivers. Local voices informed every step—from design to construction to operations — ensuring the intervention was relevant, community-owned, and resilient.

Following the Participatory Design process, the scope of the project was decided upon and it entailed:

• Designing and constructing a fully equipped, weatherproof kitchen, including a bakery to sell bread to the local community, which would generate income for the centre.
• Installing a new water supply system so the centre had running water once again in all its bathrooms, kitchen, and school.
• Renovating old plumbing, pipes, and fixtures in the bathrooms and restoring bathroom functionality.
• Introducing a community-driven social enterprise through a conference hall and bakery catering service.

These solutions addressed both immediate and systemic needs, creating long-term value through increased safety, improved health outcomes, and sustainable income generation.

Participatory design process by community members

🌟 Impact Highlights

✅ Job Creation and Local Empowerment

• Over 26 jobs were created, 10 being permanent and 16 temporary jobs, increasing staff capacity in childcare and catering functions.
• Staff reported improved ability to support their families and contribute to local economic activity.

“I used to cook for 200 children outside. Now, even in the rain, I can prepare meals in a safe kitchen.”
— Mamello Mokholokoe, Director

🍽️ Social Enterprise and Financial Sustainability

• The Conference Hall Catering Business has hosted 18+ events over 3 years.
• Generated M15,000+/$800 in revenue, which has been reinvested into the child nutrition program.
• Supports daily meals for over 200 children.

“The money we raise from catering pays for food for the children. It’s not just a business; it’s a lifeline.”
— Mathekiso Tsoke, Kitchen Manager

🪑 Improved Health, Hygiene, and Dignity

• Bathrooms are now fully functional, restoring privacy and sanitation.
• Children with disabilities can use facilities independently, improving self-esteem and reducing reliance on caregivers.

“Children now use the bathrooms without needing help. It gives them dignity.”
— Mats’oanelo Monaheng

📈 Infrastructure Resilience

• The kitchen was rated 100% structurally sound.
• Minor issues with ceiling repairs and water tank blockages were addressed through local maintenance.
• Infrastructure remains in good condition and fit for purpose.

🌐 Before vs. After Snapshot

Before Intervention	After  Intervention
Meals prepared outside in harsh and unhygienic conditions	Safe, indoor hygienic kitchen used daily
3 staff members	Over 26 jobs created
No income generation	M15,000+ raised via catering
Inaccessible sanitation	Inclusive bathrooms have been fully restored

                                    🧡 A Human Story: Meet Mpho

Mpho, aged 11, has a mobility impairment. Before the project, she had to wait for help every time she needed to use the bathroom. Today, thanks to the accessible facilities, she moves independently. Her joy and confidence reflect the dignity and freedom now restored to many at Phelisanong.

🚀 What’s Next?

• Expand the catering enterprise to increase income and train more local staff.
• Strengthen preventive maintenance for kitchen and water systems.
• Replicate the model in other vulnerable communities across Lesotho