What is Sentebale, when did Prince Harry co-found the charity and how does it help children with HIV in Botswana and Lesotho?

SENTEABLE is a charity co-founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of the Basotho Royal Family.

It works with vulnerable children in Lesotho and Botswana, two nearby countries in the south of the African continent. Here’s the lowdown…

What is Sentebale?

Senteable is a charity which works with children who have aids or are HIV positive.

In 2016, after being up and running for a decade in Lesotho, it expanded into nearby Botswana.

The name translates into ‘forget me not’ in Sesotho.

While speaking at a Diana memorial concert, Prince Harry said it was chosen “as a memorial to the charity work of our own mothers, as well as a reminder to us all not to forget Lesotho or its children.”

Lesotho has the second highest rate of HIV in the world, and there is thought to be more than 25,000 children under 14 living with the conditions.

In addition there are more than 350,000 orphans, and ten per cent of children are classed as vulnerable.

Senteable’s mission is: “To become the leading organisation in the provision of psychosocial support for children living with HIV in Southern Africa.”

And its vision is: “To work in partnership to transform positively the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children.”

When did Prince Harry co-found the charity?

The princes set it up in 2006, following Prince Harry’s gap year in Lesotho in 2004.

After completing his A-levels at Eton he worked in Australia on his gap year, and travelled to Lesotho, a kingdom inside South Africa.

He worked with orphaned children and produced the documentary, The Forgotten Kingdom.

How does it help children with HIV in Lesotho and Botswana?

Its says: “We help the most vulnerable children in Lesotho and Botswana get the support they need to lead healthy and productive lives.

“Sentebale works with local grassroots organisations to help these children – the victims of extreme poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.”

The charity runs a network of Saturday clubs and five-day camps which provide ‘essential life skills and psychosocial support’ to youngsters living with HIV.

In Lesotho, they run adolescent-friendly HIV testing and counselling services (HTS) and HIV prevention services.

They also provide bursaries for secondary school, for children who have lost either one or both parents, and for children who have disabilities.

Seteable also provides grants to families and community-led organisations who look after orphans or youngsters living with disabilities.

A key part of the charity’s work is educating people about HIV and giving people the tools and support they need come to terms with their diagnosis and lead healthy lives.