Sentebale, founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, joins fight for better hearing.
MINNEAPOLIS (October 17, 2013) – Starkey Hearing Foundation conducted a two-day hearing mission in Maseru, Lesotho last week, providing more than 1,000 customized hearing devices to people in need. The foundation partnered with Sentebale, a nonprofit organization co-founded by Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry.
Prince Seeiso joined the foundation team to help fit hearing aids and open up the world of sound to many living in silence and isolation. “I have seen children wanting to talk to each other, and their eyes tell a thousand stories,” Prince Seeiso said. “On behalf of myself, Prince Harry and Sentebale, a big thanks goes to Starkey Hearing Foundation.”
Patients, ranging from 4 to 101 years old, traveled from all parts of the small, landlocked country to have their hearing assessed and be fitted for hearing aids. For many it was an opportunity to hear for the very first time.
Hearing loss is a global epidemic, with disabling hearing loss impacting more than 360 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Yet with the help of a hearing device, hearing loss can often be corrected in many cases, giving an individual the opportunity to better connect with family, the community and the world around them.
“Hearing brings meaning and purpose to our lives, and we never stop wanting to connect with our loved ones,” Bill Austin, founder of Starkey Hearing Foundation, said. “With our inaugural mission in Lesotho, Sentebale, Prince Seeiso and Prince Harry, and the government of Lesotho have helped us open up the doors to the world of sound for thousands.”
Starkey Hearing Foundation uses hearing as a vehicle to improve the lives of individuals around the world. Its work in Lesotho is part of the dozens of domestic and international hearing missions conducted each year. The foundation has fit more than 165,000 hearing aids to people in need in the last year and has pledged to fit one million hearing aids this decade.
More information about the foundation’s work can be found on Starkey Hearing Foundation’s website, Facebook and Twitter pages.
About Starkey Hearing Foundation
Starkey Hearing Foundation uses hearing as a vehicle to reflect caring and improve the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world, by helping them reach their full potential. Hearing loss affects one in 10 Americans, and 63 million children worldwide, yet many do not have access to the hearing devices that can help them. Starkey Hearing Foundation fits and gives more than 100,000 hearing aids annually, and as a member of President Clinton’s Global Initiative, it has pledged to fit one million hearing aids this decade. In addition to giving the gift of hearing through worldwide hearing missions, Starkey Hearing Foundation promotes hearing health awareness and education through the Listen Carefully initiative and provides hearing instruments to low-income Americans through the Hear Now program. For more information on Starkey Hearing Foundation, visit www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org.
About Sentebale
Sentebale was founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso from the Lesotho Royal family in response to the plight of the neediest and most vulnerable children of Lesotho – many victims of extreme poverty and Lesotho’s HIV/AIDS epidemic. Lesotho’s main operations are based in Lesotho with fundraising and management team based in London, headed up by Chief Executive Cathy Ferrier. Both Princes remain active patrons of Sentebale. For further information please visit www.sentebale.org.
