World Vision and Partners Come to the Rescue of School Children Stranded by Unexpected Snowfall

“We were supposed to be heading home, but instead, we were stuck in the classroom with snow piling up outside. We were cold, hungry, and scared.” These are the words of Bohlokoa Molisana, an 11-year-old student from Sefapanong Primary School, who, along with his classmates, faced an unexpected and frightening challenge; being stranded far from home as an unprecedented September snowstorm blanketed parts of Lesotho and South Africa.

"We were supposed to be heading home, but instead, we were stuck in the classroom with snow piling up outside. We were cold, hungry, and scared.”- Bohlokoa, 11 years old

In what should have been a time for bright blue skies and warm sunshine, the middle of September instead brought a heavy, unseasonal snowfall. Lesotho and parts of South Africa were hit with a sudden blizzard, disrupting life as we know it. Blossoming peach trees, vibrant flowers, and the anticipation of summer warmth were replaced by a thick, freezing blanket of snow, leaving many areas impassable, particularly in the highlands of Lesotho.

For Bohlokoa and other students from Sefapanong and Paray Primary Schools, who had travelled to Maseru for a Spelling Bee competition, the snowfall turned their journey home into an unforeseen ordeal. Roads were blocked, transportation came to a halt, and as hours turned into days, the children, far from their families, began to run out of food and essential supplies.

“Parents were calling us, desperate to know when their children would be home,” said Mrs. Maboithatelo Monaheng, a teacher at Sefapanong Primary School. “But there was nothing we could do. The roads were closed, and we knew traveling in such weather was far too dangerous.”

Thanks to training provided by World Vision Lesotho under the EU-funded ‘Consolidating and Strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction (CSDRR)’ Project, Mrs. Monaheng and her fellow teachers knew what to do. The project, designed to strengthen national and community disaster preparedness, had equipped them with critical skills. Their knowledge of disaster risk reduction prompted them to make a quick decision; to seek refuge at St. Bernadette’s in Maseru and wait for the storm to pass. But even with their foresight, they soon faced a new challenge: lack of necessities.

“We were without food, blankets, or any way to keep the children warm. We were doing our best, but we knew it wasn’t enough,” Mrs. Monaheng recalled. With temperatures dropping and children huddling together for warmth, the situation grew more desperate.

"We were without food, blankets, or any way to keep the children warm."- Mrs Monaheng, Teacher at Sefapanong Primary School.

Word of their challenges quickly spread, and it was then that World Vision Lesotho and its partners sprang into action. Guided by the principle that in times of crisis, no child should be left behind, a coordinated emergency response effort was launched. The Disaster Management Authority (DMA) stepped in to provide food, while World Vision delivered vital non-food items (NFIs) to ensure the children were not just fed, but also warm and comfortable. Mattresses, blankets, heaters, bathing bowls, and cooking supplies were delivered to St. Bernadette’s, transforming what had been a cold and frightening ordeal into a moment of relief.

“I saw the relief on the children’s faces when they realized they would have something warm to eat and a proper place to sleep,” Mrs. Monaheng said, her voice soft with emotion. “It wasn’t home, but it was safe. And that made all the difference.”  For the children, the intervention was nothing short of a lifeline. “I was really scared,” Bohlokoa shared quietly. “But when the people from World Vision came with blankets and food, I felt like maybe everything was going to be okay.”

“I saw the relief on the children’s faces when they realized they would have something warm to eat and a proper place to sleep,” - Mrs Monaheng

The response didn’t stop there. In another part of the country, children from Qacha’s Nek United Primary School found themselves stranded at Unity English Medium School, similarly cut off by snow-covered roads. With cold seeping into their bones and food supplies dwindling, the situation was grim. Once again, World Vision, in collaboration with the Lesotho Red Cross Society and DMA, moved swiftly to provide critical support. For these children, too, there were mattresses, blankets, and enough food to last until they could safely return home.

Mrs. ‘Mamanamolela Sekhotla, Deputy Principal of Qacha’s Nek United Primary School, remembered the look of joy on the children’s faces when the supplies arrived. “The moment the blankets were handed out, the children smiled. It was like the warmth wasn’t just from the blankets but from knowing someone cared,” she said, tearing up as she recounted the experience. “They were so far from home, but in that moment, they felt cared for.” For the teachers and the children, the relief was tangible; emotional even. In the middle of an unexpected snowstorm, they had found warmth, food, and comfort. But perhaps more importantly, they had found hope.

“The moment the blankets were handed out, the children smiled. It was like the warmth wasn’t just from the blankets but from knowing someone cared,” - Mrs Mamanamolela, Deputy Principal of Qacha’s Nek United Primary School

As the snow begins to melt and roads reopen, these children will soon return to their homes and families. Yet, the impact of this intervention will remain imprinted in their memories. What could have been a traumatic experience was transformed by the swift actions of World Vision and its partners into a story of compassion, care, and community.

At the heart of it all was a simple, but powerful message: no matter the crisis, World Vision will always race to save lives. Because where there is a child in need, there is always hope and there is always help.