Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho step down from their roles as patrons of Sentebale, the African children's charity they founded, following a deep internal crisis involving clashes with the board chair.
Prince Harry has made the difficult decision to step down from his African children's charity, Sentebale . The Duke of Sussex initially established the charity in 2006 alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, honoring the humanitarian legacies of their late mothers, Princess Diana and Queen 'Mamohato Bereng Seeiso. Motivated by their mothers' dedication to service, Harry and Seeiso launched Sentebale to support vulnerable children affected by poverty and HIV/AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana.
However, a deep crisis within the organization has forced Harry and Seeiso to resign, along with the entire board of trustees. Disputes arose regarding fundraising efforts, particularly a shift towards Africa, leading to tensions with Dr. Sophie Chandauka, the chairwoman of the board. She has been requested to step down, but she reportedly refuses to relinquish her position, sparking a lawsuit from the trustees who believe she is unfit for the role.\In a joint statement, the Princes expressed their profound sadness over the situation. They stated, 'Nearly 20 years ago, we founded Sentebale in honour of our mothers. Sentebale means 'forget-me-not' in Sesotho, the local language of Lesotho, and it's what we've always promised for the young people we've served through this charity. Today is no different. With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as patrons of the organisation until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same. It is devastating that the relationship between the charity's trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation.' They asserted that the trustees acted in the best interests of the charity, requesting Dr. Chandauka to step down while prioritizing the well-being of staff. However, Dr. Chandauka's subsequent lawsuit against the charity exemplifies the irreconcilable breakdown. Harry and Seeiso stated they will share their concerns with the Charity Commission to understand how this crisis unfolded.\While stepping away from their patron roles, the Princes emphasized their enduring commitment to Sentebale's beneficiaries. They concluded their statement by saying, 'Although we may no longer be patrons, we will always be its founders, and we will never forget what this charity is capable of achieving when it is in the right care.' Dr. Chandauka, in her own statement, defended her actions, asserting that they were driven by her commitment to the integrity of the charity and its mission. She claimed to be fighting against 'poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir – and the coverup that ensued.' Former trustees, including a longtime friend of Prince Harry's and a former Royal equerry, Mark Dyer, also issued a statement expressing their pride in Sentebale's work and their support for the decision to resign from the board
Prince Harry Sentebale Charity Crisis Resignation Dr Sophie Chandauka Prince Seeiso Of Lesotho
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