An oasis of hope in the centre of the African HIV/AIDS pandemic, Beautiful Gate cares for Lesotho’s most vulnerable children.

The stories about how these children come to Beautiful Gate are shocking and gut wrenching to hear. Only shear desperation could result in such atrocities. But Beautiful Gate is a safe place, where babies and toddlers are cared for and loved so they can survive until a day they find their way home with a family, or so that they can die with dignity.

Ray and Sue Haakonsen and two staff established “Little Feet Ministry” in Lesotho in June 2001 as a response to the acute problem of abandoned babies, brought on by the growing HIV/AIDS pandemic and the abject poverty prevalent amongst the majority of people living in Lesotho.

They initially cared for seven babies found abandoned at Queen Elizabeth II hospital in Maseru, Initially their facility consisted of a small three roomed house in Maseru West, employing eight Basotho ladies to train as care-workers and support staff. Since that time, they have cared for over 260 babies, mainly abandoned because of or affected by HIV/AIDS. The goal has always been to see these children go back to biological family or adopted to a new family.

Beautiful Gate has the capacity to care for 60 children and typically cares for an average of 45 babies and toddlers at any one time. The babies range in age from one month to six years of age. While at Beautiful Gate, children eat regular nutritious meals and snacks, they attend preschool with a progressive play and education program, they receive medical care from a staff nurse, and they receive love and care from an amazing staff of 'house mothers'.

The First Lady of Lesotho has credited Beautiful Gate with changing the standard of orphan care in the country.

In September 2010 Beautiful Gate opened a pre-school to offer educational opportunities to the neediest children of Ha Thetsane. At present there are 70 children enrolled. The staff and administration of Beautiful Gate hope to expand medical and training services to the surrounding community as the organisation grows.