Bonnini Homestay & Art Residency in Lesotho

My Friend Mannini Mokhothu build this amazing Art Residency in the mountains of Lesotho, located in the charming village of Semonkong. Called Bonnini Homestay & Art Residency. Mannini wants to bring tourists and artists to this enchanting corner of the world. To share the local art, culture, and nature with visitors. Besides the cross-pollination of people and cultures, this also creates an income for villagers and opportunities not currently available to them.

Why do we ask for help? Because this is a local project, initiated by an artist born in Semonkong and most of the basic setup is done even after surviving the drama of the covid. Bonnini's style of addressing poverty, community mental health, and advocating artistic expression is also collective. And given the magnitude of the impact that this project may have on cross-cultural exchange and skills transfer, it is hugely important that its basic infrastructure becomes part of the development right away.

Having water is one of the main priorities right now. Currently with a collective effort of the locals around the residency, one needs to walk about 25 min to collect 20 Liters of water by hand, per round.

We have spoken to a company that places boreholes. The price includes the complete installation + a solar pump, and a water tank. This way Bonnini Homestay & Art Residency will have running water. But it is also the largest expense.

Our next step is to address/achieve the following areas of development:

Water infrastructure, heating system, electricity:

-Woodburning fireplace R7000. This is the only source of heating.

-Solar Panels 2000Euro

-Borehole, water tank, solar pump, and fittings. Estimation depending on how deep they need to go is R92 000 - R100 000 (South African Rands) about €4,754.19.

-Warm water shower that works on propane gas R3500-R6000 (depending on the make).

Update:

To fix the windows, so that it does not let in the cold mountain air. 450euro

-Update: With a collective effort of friends and other artists, we have managed to raise 414euro (gofundme) & 250Euro from Clay Cafe NL which has allowed us to have windows and glass fixed.

Website

-Update: 105,20euro sponsored by Clay Cafe NL for hosting and building a website for www.bonnini.com and Mannini is writing the content of the website in accordance with her business plan.

Kitchen

-Update: Mannini has set up an open plan art studio atelier with kitchenette including kitchen flooring and basic utensils

So we thankfully no longer need to fundraise for that.

Do you have other ways to contribute, please send us an email.

Bonnini Homestead www.bonnini.com will repay you by giving you free accommodation when you visit or receive a digital artwork from www.flamingorace.com. Send me an email or msg I can make sure you can receive a digital artwork.

If you want to receive a business plan, we can provide it.

With united effort and skills, we're doing all that we can to make sure that you have access to information and easily connect with the development of this project.

Thank you for your support.

Update:

-Sponsor of 250euro from Clay Cafe NL.

-Sponsor of Website hosting costs 105,20euro by Clay Cafe Nl.

-Carina Claassens has made the first gofundme donation 414Euro to Bonnini.

-Windows are fixed and glass is installed & paid for.

Link to website

Bonnini Homestead will repay you by giving you free accommodation when you visit or digital artwork. If you want to receive a business plan, we can provide it.

I am currently busy making a website: www.bonnini.com, so that visitors can find more info and setting up social media, google maps etc. So that travelers can find it easier.