Day 3 at Leadership Camp in Lesotho was packed with meaningful activities and energy. Campers participated in life skills sessions on adolescence and resilience, received one-on-one psychosocial support, and debated strategies to prevent HIV in honor of World AIDS Day. The day also included a lively Q&A, shared meals for 200+ people, and of course, lots of singing and dancing!
Catch the highlights in today’s video update!
Campers began the day with a powerful session on self-awareness, focusing on self-love, respect, and the impact of their actions. They then learned about goal-setting and confidence from inspiring Help Lesotho alumni. The afternoon buzzed with energy and laughter during team-building games!
Catch the Day 2 highlights below:
Leadership Camp is in full swing, uniting high school students from across Lesotho for five days of growth, connection and leadership development. 200 students were invited to this year’s camp, marking Lesotho’s 200th year as a country. Follow their journey by watching our first vlog below!
In honuor of Help Lesotho’s 20th anniversary, we’re celebrating 20 inspiring young leaders who are making a difference across their communities. These alumni from our programs have transformed their own lives and are now positively impacting their friends, families and neighborhoods. Through skills they gained with Help Lesotho—like resilience, leadership and compassion. Join us in honouring their achievements and the powerful, lasting impact of youth leadership in Lesotho. Read on to hear from them!
Juliette is a social work student at the National University of Lesotho and a dedicated volunteer with Help Lesotho’s village outreach program. Her journey began in 2015 with Help Lesotho’s child sponsorship program, which she credits as a “vital source of support and inspiration.”
Since then, she has been driven to empower vulnerable youth in her community, addressing issues like bullying and poverty-related stigma. “One significant challenge I’ve faced was seeing a young child drop out of school due to bullying,” she says. “I stepped in to offer psychosocial support, encouraging him to see his challenges as stepping stones.”
Juliette hopes to continue making a meaningful impact in social work, using the skills she learned from Help Lesotho to strengthen her community.
What is the most significant change in your life since participating in a Help Lesotho program?
Participating in Help Lesotho programs (GIRL4ce, Computer & Life Skills) has increased my confidence and resilience, because I am able to make confident decisions and stand up for my rights and other people’s rights.
What are your hopes and goals for the future?
My primary goal for the future is to become a community leader who can drive positive change and support others in achieving their greatest potential. I will foster an empowered community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Growing up in a family of seven, Mochini began working alongside his mother at just 8-years-old, selling small goods to help fund his siblings’ school fees. Despite a difficult start, he persisted and became the top student at his high school. “Never give up on dreams,” he reflects, recalling his excitement when he was finally accepted to his dream school, Molapo High, after years of perseverance.
In university, Mochini faced further hurdles. His goal to study medicine abroad was out of reach financially, but his brother supported him in pursuing a related field—BSc Biotechnology at the National University of Lesotho. Through long study hours and dedication, he excelled, later interning at Makoanyane Military Hospital.
Mochini credits Help Lesotho’s support and values as crucial in his growth, saying, “Every youth has resilience and agency to navigate challenges.”
I encourage people to talk about their emotions to avoid depression and suicides, solving problems by talking not by aggressiveness.
Before my program I was an introvert but I now know how to socialize and communicate my feelings. I am now able to use the computer and continue to work on developing my social skills.
The most significant change in my life since participating in the Get a Job program was an enlightenment that I really do not have to look forward to being employed, that I can actually be an entrepreneur. I hope that the lives of those around me are impacted positively as they watch me work towards my dreams
Mamachaka, endured a difficult past marked by domestic abuse and the tragic loss of her child. Married young, she faced frequent violence from her ex-husband, which left her with anger issues and suicidal thoughts. Determined to heal, she learned to manage her anger through positive outlets like exercising, focusing on things she loves, and talking openly about her feelings. “I overcame anger issues and making bad decisions,” she says.
Now, Mamachaka is committed to helping others. She volunteers to clean homes for elderly community members and encourages young people to report gender-based violence and pursue their dreams. Her experiences have turned her into a voice of resilience and hope.
Looking ahead, Mamachaka dreams of becoming a successful businesswoman and building a home for her family. With short-term plans in place, she’s working step-by-step to make her goals a reality.
Help Lesotho also made me value myself as a woman, know my rights and also advocate for the rights of children and women. It is through Help Lesotho where I gained knowledge about empowering other women who undergo violence and those who struggle with their mental health.
For the longest time, I have looked down upon myself and thought I was never smart enough but after the “Leaders in training program” I have gained self competency and confidence that I can do anything that I’ve set my mind on. And i have learnt that it is okay to feel my feelings and masking them won’t make them to go away.
I inspire others in my community by sharing the knowledge I got and participating in community projects and Help Lesotho programs. I now help kids with their school work under Smart kids program.
Creating positive change through kindness and action!
Question: What is the most significant change in your life since participating in a Help Lesotho program?
Justice: Participating in Help Lesotho programs (GIRL4ce, Computer & Life Skills) has increased my confidence and resilience, because I am able to make confident decisions and stand up for my rights and other people’s rights.
Question: What are your hopes and goals for the future?
Justice: My primary goal for the future is to become a community leader who can drive positive change and support others in achieving their greatest potential. I will foster an empowered community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
In 2020, Sebuoeng joined Help Lesotho’s Leaders in Training Program, which redefined her understanding of leadership. “I learned that leadership is not about authority but about the agency to take meaningful action and inspire change,” she said. In 2023, she applied these skills in the Smart Kids Program, empowering children and creating a positive impact. These experiences built her confidence and led to her receiving a prestigious Chevening Scholarship to study in the UK.
Her journey was not without hardships. As a teenage mother facing unemployment, she learned resilience and perseverance. “Programs like Help Lesotho’s gave me the tools and confidence to turn my challenges into opportunities to grow, lead, and make a meaningful difference in my community,” she said.
Sebuoeng now inspires others by sharing her story, mentoring youth, and promoting education, particularly for girls. Her future goals focus on gender equality and youth empowerment in Lesotho and Southern Africa. “Help Lesotho taught me to lead with purpose and use my experiences to inspire and mentor others,” she said.
Lieketseng’s journey with Help Lesotho has transformed her life and purpose. As a young mother facing low self-esteem and community judgment, joining the Young Mother Program in 2022 changed everything. “The program changed my whole thinking,” she reflects. “Now I understand that every young mother deserves respect—not discrimination or judgment from the community. I have confidence and know my rights as a woman.”
Help Lesotho reminded her of her worth: “I am too great, I am seen, I matter, I am beautiful and have unlimited potential.” Rebuilding her confidence, she stepped into a new role as a leader in the Smart Kids Program in 2023. “I always guide my friends to know themselves and their rights,” she says. Lieketseng now helps young women learn about issues like STIs, contraceptives and HIV/AIDS, dispelling harmful misinformation and inspiring them to embrace their own power.
“I hope every young Mosotho sees themselves and recognizes their power,” she says. “Let’s join hands to empower each other and create real change.”
Bokang is on a mission to uplift his community. A recent graduate of Help Lesotho’s Leaders in Training (LIT) program, he’s discovered his potential as a leader and mentor.
Through LIT’s “Pay It Forward” initiative, Bokang organized career guidance sessions at Mopeli High School and Mphaki High School, covering topics like self-awareness, goal setting and healthy decision-making. “I gave students from my former school a career guidance whereby I helped them understand what causes the different tertiary institutions offers and what do they need to get there,” he explains. “I am looking forward to helping young people from my village and the nearby villages who have dropped out of school to build their self-esteem and be able to make good decisions and to understand there is still future for them.”
“My goal is to be the positive influence whereby I change the lives of people for healthy living, especially training young people to know themselves, know their stands and understand the importance in them,” he says.
Molebeleli, an Admissions Officer at Botho University, credits Help Lesotho’s Youth Leaders in Training program for shaping his leadership journey. Participating in 2014, he gained critical skills in advocacy, health education, and gender equality. “It provided me with essential training in leadership and personal development and gave me valuable insights into community challenges,” he shares.
Overcoming a fear of public speaking was a defining moment for Molebeleli. “Initially, standing in front of a large group was intimidating,” he recalls. Through the program, he built confidence and now frequently presents and speaks on panels. “This skill set has been invaluable in my career and leadership journey.”
“I strive to show others that growth is achievable at any stage of life, and that building these skills contributes to stronger, more supportive relationships and communities.”
Currently, 25-35% of Help Lesotho’s intensive program participants are young mothers and fathers looking for guidance. Many of them never experienced positive parenting, which has played a role in Lesotho’s high rates of suicide and depression. Help Lesotho is helping to break this cycle by empowering parents to create loving, supportive environments for their children. Every year we reach many parents and guardians with life-changing education through program sessions and community workshops.
Parents:
Kids:
Families:
Ntate Mashaile is a recent participant of Help Lesotho’s Positive Parenting Workshop, and a dedicated father to a 7-year-old and a new baby born in March 2024. He is a shining example of the positive change our programs inspire!
Mashaile participated in our inter-generational dialogue program back in 2019, where he learned the importance of good communication among community members of different ages. Through the Positive Parenting Workshop he attended in 2024, he has developed essential skills and identified areas he wants to improve as a parent.
His commitment to being an engaged and loving father reflects the core values of our program.
Nkhono Manqalile and Nkhono Mamakeng are past members of Help Lesotho’s Grandmother Program (2018-2020). They recently participated in a workshop on Positive Parenting.
“We used to come to this place [the hall where they attended the Grandmother Program sessions] and forget all our problems. We felt love, we felt safe. We always remember Help Lesotho,” they fondly recall.
Nkhono Manqalile (navy jacket) realized her strengths and weaknesses through the program, which empowered her to bring in income by making brooms. She currently cares for six grandchildren, aged 5 to 17.
Nkhono Mamakeng gained valuable skills to raise orphaned and abandoned children. She cares for eight children, including a 22-year-old with a disability who is also a mother to a 2-year-old.
The children they care for also attend the Smart Kids sessions, which has greatly helped their schooling!
‘A ’Positive Parenting’ workshop for young mothers and community members saw great turnout!
Every year, as part of the Student Sponsorship Program, parents and guardians are invited to an information session with Help Lesotho. This year’s gathering featured updated information and practices for guardians to be able to best support youth at home, and in school.
This young mother brought her little one to the workshop, allowing her to participate fully in the training while balancing her caregiving responsibilities.
Community members gathered in Thaba Tseka for a session on Positive Parenting where they learned about how to protect children against child marriage and human trafficking, as well as how to best manage the stress of parenting so they can be good role models and support systems for their children.