Dolen Cymru History

Dolen Cymru has a long history of links with Lesotho. Here we take a look at what Dolen Cymru has achieved since the charity was launched in 1985.

How it all began...

It was at the time of the Eithiopian Famine in 1984 that people in Wales felt that they had to respond to the need in Africa. Civil Society in Wales wanted to work together with an African country to respond to people's need whilst strengthening international relations, instead of just becoming an AID agency. Lesotho was chosen because of it's similarities to Wales in size, landscape, billingualism and cultural heritage.

In 1985 the Dolen Cymru link was launched as a two way partnership between Wales and Lesotho. Through understanding and friendship would come involvement and from involvement collaboration where links initiated by individuals, communities and organisations, both in Wales and Lesotho, would lead to common action in a particular sphere.

Just a few things that have happened since 1985:

• Over 130 schools are now linked throughout Wales and Lesotho through Dolen Cymru's school linking programme, reaching over 40,000 children in Wales.

• Reciprocal visits now allow teachers and pupils from each school in Wales and Lesotho to spend at least a week at their link school, facilitating the exchange of teaching practises.

• Since 2005 over 50 teachers have been out to Lesotho through our Lesotho Teacher Placement Programme, their work is essential in the education of children throughout the nation.

• Many organisations have been involved in raising money for different projects in Lesotho. Merched y Wawr launched a sponsered knit for Lesotho raising over £13,000. They also published a book of tales from Wales and Lesotho called "Y Ddolen Air - Straeon o Cymru a Lesotho."

• Church leaders from Wales and Lesotho have been involved in exchange programmes.

• Town to Town twinning began in 1999 when St Davids became twinned with Matsieng in Lesotho.

• Dolen Cymru has arranged numerous elective placement for medical students from Wales at hospitals in Lesotho, with reciprocal training for Lesotho health staff in Wales.In 2003 12 Welsh volunteers arrived in Lesotho.

• In 2007 Prince Harry was appointed Patron of Dolen Cymru.

If you would like to read more about Dolen Cymru's history then please order our book, ‘ Wales's African Twin' By Paul Williams, which tells the story of Dolen Cymru. To order a copy please contact us on 02920 497390 or email us at swyddfa@dolencymru.org