Beautiful Gate Ministries

Groundbreaking of the Beautiful Gate Care and Training Centre Lesotho took place in July 2004. The construction began in August 2004 and the completion is dependent on incoming donations.

The six baby houses, offices, pre-school and chapel are being built in Phase 1, as well as foundations for all other buildings. Of the phase 1 buldings the chapel, babyhouses and the medical clinic are all finished. The Training centre, and other less prioritised additional buildings will be completed during Phase 2 and the landscaping will be completed in the final phase.

The care and training centre is being built in Ha Thetsane, a newly developing suburb about six kilometres South East of Maseru. Ha Thetsane is a mixture of expensive two-story homes and much smaller one-roomed basic homes with varying sizes and quality of living accommodations in between. The plot we are building on is 14,325 square metres in size. The site is in a semi-rural country setting with good views of hills and trees situated close to the South African border. It lends itself to a peaceful, caring and therapeutic environment.

The present centre which has been used since June 2003 is offering four programmes including temporary residential care for up to 25 abandoned and HIV affected babies, temporary crisis care for AIDS orphans and specific critical children's' situations, a strong adoption program for children under our care and basic HIV/AIDS training to caregivers of orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC's) both in our centre and in selected villages.

Since our establishment we have had to move three times, leaving us vulnerable to high rental charges, uncertainty of length of rental and "making do" with whatever accommodation has been offered to us. We have seen the necessity of establishing our own care and training centre and excitedly inform you of our decision to begin building our own facility.

All gifts and pledges are much appreciated. If you would like to make a donation, please e-mail finance@beautifulgatelesotho.org or phone +266 22321680 for details.

Medical Clinic

Four of the six Baby Houses

Administration Building

Chapel after work done by 23 volunteers from the river church in Redlands, California

THE BUILDING PROJECT AIMS TO PROVIDE:

• A new facility for the medical, social, emotional, physical and spiritual care for HIV+ and symptomatic children and their families

• Develop new concepts in long term care for children infected with affected by HIV/AIDS

• Serve as a service centre to care in the surrounding communities

• Various training courses with a focus on children in need.

THE SITE WILL INCLUDE:

• 6 x children's houses each one accommodating up to 8 children. These 6 houses will be adjoined so as to have 2 houses together, with a central area with Kitchen, laundry and Housemother accommodations.

• A Training Centre and accommodation that will enable groups of up to 60 to be trained in daylong seminars and 24 accommodated and trained in longer term schools.

• A Medical facility to provide a nursing station and isolation/hospice situation for very ill.

• A Pre-school and play area for children in our centre and from surrounding poor families.

• A multi functional Chapel for services, memorials and presentation purposes, ranging from spiritual counselling, teaching and church events.

• Office area for volunteer and administrative staff.

• Skills training building to be used to teach Caregivers and orphans skills to empower them to be self-sustaining.

• A staff flat providing accommodation for a residential staff person/couple on site.

• Hospitality flat to house short-term visitors to our centre.

• Garage and workshop facilities for maintenance of our buildings and transport.

Beautiful Gate Ministries is an international and interdenominational Christian organisation that gives care and support to children in need and their families. We provide medical, emotional, spiritual and physical care to the children, and support to their families and communities through offering theoretical and practical training and discipleship.