It’s About Love & Hope
for Children
The purpose of the BEAUTIFUL::AFRICA campaign is to provide a glimpse of a work that many consider truly beautiful – caring for and loving children who have been abandoned or orphaned as a result of poverty and HIV/AIDS.
One organization providing such care is Beautiful Gate, with locations in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Lesotho. We are currently focusing on helping the Lesotho center, which was begun by Ray and Sue Haakonsen in June 2001 with seven infants in their care. Since its establishment, the center has cared for over 170 babies, and has seen more than 70 adopted both locally and internationally.
Today, Ray and Sue’s personal decision to care has evolved into an oasis of light in a very dark land. Beautiful Gate Lesotho cares full-time for nearly 50 babies while hosting just under 60 children in a preschool. It also employs 65 care-givers, teachers, administrators and maintenance staff from the surrounding community, providing valuable employment in an area where jobs are difficult to find. They are the premier care facility in the nation and have worked with the government to improve adoption legislation.
