Prince Harry Must Rally His Polo Circle: Charity Can't Be a Casualty of 'Decolonization'

Equestrian athletes across the globe, mount your horses and prepare for action—thousands of African children living with HIV require your assistance, despite many of you being affluent, predominantly Caucasian individuals.

It came to light this week that Sentebale, a charity established by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006, is facing financial difficulties. All of its trustees have resigned collectively. , just like its patrons, after a reverse takeover by the organization’s newly appointed chairman.

Although modest in size, this charitable organization plays a crucial role. Its efforts have been pivotal in addressing the ongoing HIV-AIDS crisis in certain parts of the globe. Within the small country of Lesotho, over 37,000 minors are believed to be infected with HIV, often without knowing their status.

Sentebale collaborates closely with individuals to dismantle fear and stigma while promoting testing and treatment. In the past two decades, it has rescued and cared for countless young people. It stands as a tribute to the two women it was established in honor of—Diana, Princess of Wales, and Queen 'Mamohato Bereng Seeiso of Lesotho—who would undoubtedly feel immense pride.

Currently, though, the organization seems to have succumbed to a version of reverse snobbery or woke culture, which holds significant implications for the whole assistance industry.

Sources say the newly appointed head of the charity, Sophie Chandauka sought to "decolonize" the organization by shifting away from fundraising through events such as charity polo matches, all before setting up viable alternatives.

A substantial invoice amounting to around $500,000 for consultant services, a unsuccessful attempt to secure additional contributors from the USA, along with claims that Ms. Chandauka requested a $300,000 yearly compensation for her voluntary role, led the board members to request her resignation.

She rejected the offer, charging the charity with "inadequate leadership, ineffective top management, misuse of authority, bullying, harassment, sexism, and anti-black sentiment," which triggered this week's departure of Prince Harry and others, casting a shadow over the organization's prospects.

A number of high-ranking insiders, such as the longtime trustee Dr Kelello Lerotholi, have stated that they saw no indication of mistreatment or racial discrimination.

It is peculiar for the head of a charitable organization to decline resigning when they have lost the support of their longtime board members and sponsors.

Ms. Chandauka had a short stint with Meta, which owns platforms like Facebook and Instagram, and spent more time serving as a high-ranking official at the financial institution Morgan Stanley.

Her "Dr" prefix comes from an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration conferred upon her by the University of Coventry in 2023, apparently in acknowledgment of her efforts in promoting diversity.

The London-based Black British Business Awards Ltd, which she co-founded and which accounts for her MBE received in 2021 "for services to diversity in business," is facing difficulties as well. Ms. Chandauka stepped down from her position as a director of the organization last June.

The firm is facing a shortfall amounting to £387,000, with £197,000 of this debt being owed to HM Revenue & Customs.

Whether it is also facing insolvency depends on who the £462,000 in creditors mentioned in note 7 [of the financial statements] are," a senior accountant explains to me. "If it’s the bank, they might run into problems.

Nevertheless, Ms Chandauka is not alone. She is not the first international non-profit leader to distance herself from fundraising methods like celebrity polo events and Red Nose Day, finding them somewhat condescending and outdated.

However, this approach fails to keep the primary objective in mind — improving the well-being of the individuals these charities aim to support. As the U.S., UK, and numerous other nations cut back on their foreign aid contributions, the demand for financial resources has become more critical than ever before.

A study released in The Lancet this week indicates that without addressing the funding gap left by US Aid, there could be an extra 4.4 million to 10.8 million new cases of HIV in low- and middle-income nations before the end of the decade.

Ms. Chandauka ought to humbly acknowledge that she made a mistake with the timing and resign, making way for Sentebale’s initial trustees and patrons to come back.

In the meantime, Prince Harry ought to step up and take the lead, or do whatever it takes to call his polo friends together.

They need to conduct substantial fundraising efforts for those children in Lesotho, Botswana, and beyond.

Ms. Chandauka has been asked to provide her input.

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