HAESO was created by Peace Corps volunteers who lived and worked alongside Basotho communities in Lesotho.
Through their service, they built deep relationships with the children, families, teachers, and schools they served. They saw firsthand the strength, kindness, and resilience of Basotho communities, but they also saw the daily challenges many students had to overcome just to learn, grow, and stay well.
For many children, education is not only about the classroom. It is also affected by whether a child has warm clothing in the winter, enough food, school materials, safe learning spaces, support with school costs, and access to basic needs that many others may take for granted.
HAESO was formed to help meet those needs in a practical and responsible way. By working with trusted local schools and community contacts, HAESO connects donor support to real needs that affect children’s current wellbeing and their path toward a successful future.
At its heart, HAESO is built on relationship, trust, and the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and feel supported.
In Sesotho, Haeso means “my home.” To us, it reflects the deep connection we formed with Lesotho and the responsibility we feel to support the children, schools, and communities who welcomed us as part of their own.