In the midst of extreme poverty, children can become victims - voiceless, inconvenient and forgotten. They can be abandoned and neglected while adults seek a better life. They can be abused and treated as a burden. Where communities have really broken down, boys and girls are often exploited and their childhood taken from them in the most horrific ways. Although not verbal, a clear message is sent to children in these communities: "you don't matter and no-one cares."

Sepheo's work in Maseru seeks to provide refuge and healing to victims, but also to address what has gone wrong and ensure communities function again.

All the evidence tells us that children do best in families, not in institutions. Poverty is not a reason for a child to be away from their family and community and Sepheo will always fight for a child's right to belong. When we encounter children without a home, or where a child's family is harmful, Sepheo works with government, extended family and communities to make sure children stay as close to home as possible and remain connected to their culture.

Sometimes, this means supporting a child's relatives with food or school fees; other times, caring community members step in to provide family environments for children with no other option. Most family placements require no material support whatsoever. Our team is passionate about making families stronger and more nurturing of children.

Over the years, Sepheo has worked intimately with hundreds of  victims of sexual, physical and emotional abuse. Without peer, the common thread has always been toxic masculinity amplified by the effects of poverty.

This abuse will never end unless we deal with men. It's not about pushing down and emasculating them; quite the opposite, we are elevating the role that men have to play in a functioning and stable community.

Men are created to be strong, but this strength should be used to protect, not to harm.

This message is going out through our course, Khotatsong (Courageous), adapted specifically for Lesotho and the issues that face young men in Maseru.