Head of Organisation:
'M'e Mathato Lefoka, Chairperson
m. +266 5806 6753
e: mathatolefoka@yahoo.co.uk

Key Contact:
'M'e Mpho Ntsaba, Deputy Chairperson
m: +266 5847 8362
e: seegn@tlmail.co.ls

Name: 'M'e Kekeletso Morolong
Position: UNICEF Officer for LAPT
phone: +266 2231-5801
cell: +266 5885 6708
fax: +266 2231-0248
kmorolong@unicef.org

Postal Address:
c/o LGGA
PO Box 487
Maseru 100

Physical Address:
Site 523, Pope John Paul II adjacent to Moshoeshoes statue (near National Tennis Courts)

Community-based Organisation

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265 professionals trained by 2008

2006/196

UNICEF is the founder and funder of LAPT, making it LAPTs key partner. LAPT members / trainees come from a multitude of organizations in Lesotho including:
UNICEF
Ministry of Education (LDTC)
Ministry of Justice (Probation Unit, JTC)
LGGA
Beautiful Gate
Good Shepherd
Department of Social Welfare
CGPU
SOS
ECCD
Mants'ase Children's Hom
Others

All 10 districts are covered through LAPTs 265+ trained professionals. There is at least one trained professional in each district.

The mission of the Lesotho Association of Play Therapy is to be committed to the psychological, clinical, ethical, therapeutic and training needs of therapists who use play as an integral component of the process in their work with children, adolescents, and adults.

Play therapy is a form of psycho-social support provided to children aged 0-12 years and their families, in some cases. This therapy promotes symptom resolution, stability, and competence in children affected by violence, abuse, trauma, anti-social behavior, and learning difficulties, as well as orphans and other vulnerable children. Play therapy is proven to help children express themselves, develop resilience, and heal through various play activities.

LAPT is an association comprised of professionals dealing with children in their work, who are trained to recognize play themes and to assist children in working through their conflicts.

In Lesotho, LAPT includes members of Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice, CGPU, social workers, teachers, probation and rehabilitation officers, childcare workers, and other professionals who have direct interaction with children in their work. More than 265 professionals from different sectors have been trained in Lesotho since the program started in 2002 as a UNICEF initiative. Of these trainees, 23 have been trained via ToT in 2007 so that they can pass on information about play therapy to other professionals in the country.

22 are Master Trainers.

By January 2009, LAPT plans to establish its own office, complete with telephone line, office equipment, and at least one full-time administrative staff member. LAPT also intends to translate play therapy training materials and the training work-plan into Sesotho for wider dissemination. LAPT also plans to offer refresher courses on play therapy for all trainees.