Strengthening Foundations in HaLebesa: July 2019 Team Visit

In July 2019, Patrice, Penny and I travelled to HaLebesa for a couple of weeks, joined by Sam and Sophie Teo. At this stage of the project, our first children have joined the One Day family, and daily life on the mountain is beginning to take shape. With houses now lived in and routines forming, this trip is less about building structures and more about strengthening foundations.

It is a privilege to spend extended time on the ground at this stage. The early vision is becoming lived reality, and with that comes responsibility to ensure that everything we are building is healthy, sustainable and well governed.

Supporting the Emerging Church in HaLebesa

During our time in Lesotho, we visited the church that is forming in HaLebesa. The congregation is meeting in a tent supplied by Judea Harvest, and it is encouraging to see a local church community growing alongside the work of One Day. Ntate Brown has been faithfully discipling people and helping to connect them into community.

Gathering in the tent, worshipping together, and seeing familiar faces week by week gives a sense that something steady is taking root. The church is becoming part of the wider life of the community, and it is encouraging to witness it developing in a simple and grounded way.

Establishing Safeguarding and Governance Structures

A key focus of this trip is to help establish strong operational norms for the centre. With our first house parents now in place, it is vital that we invest in training and systems that support them well.

Ntate Mohau and Mme Mamaropeli have recently been appointed as our first house parents. They are generous and committed people, and we are looking forward to walking alongside them in this role. The quality of care for the children depends greatly on the capacity, support and accountability of those leading the homes, so this season of training is crucial.

Sophie, who works as a social worker in Dublin, has been instrumental in this area. She has spent time delivering safeguarding and child protection training, running workshops, and reviewing how we approach care. We have also met with the Department of Social Development to discuss our policies, legal obligations and working relationships. These conversations are helping us ensure that our work aligns with national standards and expectations.

Much of Sophie’s contribution has taken place behind the scenes. She has worked extensively on drafting, revising and strengthening our policies and procedures so that we have robust safeguarding and governance structures in place. We are deeply grateful that people with the right skills are willing to invest their time at moments when those skills are most needed.

Planning the Future of the One Day Site

Sam, as an architect, has helped us think more carefully about how we use the land entrusted to us. He has walked the site, drafted plans, and offered insight into how future houses, shared spaces and common areas might best be arranged. His perspective has brought clarity to decisions that will shape how families move through and experience the space in years to come.

Having professional input at this stage is invaluable. It allows us to plan thoughtfully rather than reactively, ensuring that growth happens in a way that supports community life.

Alongside their specific roles, both Sam and Sophie have joined in fully with daily life on the mountain.

Building Strong Community Partnerships

During this trip, we have prioritised strengthening relationships with key local institutions. In addition to meeting with the Department of Social Development, we visited the main police station in the district and met with officers, particularly those working within the Child and Gender Protection Unit.

These officers deal daily with issues affecting vulnerable children and women. We are grateful for the work they are doing and are committed to maintaining a strong and supportive working relationship with them. Our desire is to serve within existing structures, to operate transparently, and to contribute positively to the systems already in place in Lesotho.

During our visit to the police station, the officers also facilitated a meeting with local and area chiefs, along with members of the wider community. This provided an opportunity to introduce the One Day project more fully, to share our heart and vision, and to explain how the centre will operate as it becomes fully established. It was encouraging to begin building relationships not only within HaLebesa but across the wider district, and to express our desire to support vulnerable children within existing community structures.

Our hope is that these meetings build trust and clarity, which are essential as we continue to grow.

Celebrating with the Local Community

We were also able to bring a set of football shirts donated by a team in Dublin for the local HaLebesa team, Blackpool. The shirts were presented during one of our church gatherings in the tent, and they were received with real appreciation. It was a simple gesture, but one that strengthened connection and shared enjoyment within the community.

Perhaps the greatest joy of this trip has been time with the five children who are now part of the One Day family. Watching them grow in confidence, stability and security affirms why this work matters. Daily routines, shared meals and moments of play all contribute to a sense of belonging that is beginning to settle into the homes.

Continuing to Build Well

This trip has been less visible than earlier building phases, but no less important. As the project matures, careful governance, safeguarding, thoughtful planning and strong partnerships are essential.

We are grateful to Sam and Sophie for travelling to Lesotho and offering their professional skills so generously. Their contribution has strengthened the foundations of the work in ways that will serve the children and families well.

If you have skills or experience that you feel could support the development of One Day, we would love to hear from you. Whether in safeguarding, governance, design, training or another area, there may be space for you to contribute meaningfully to what is taking shape in HaLebesa.