Dr. Tlhabi’s Journey from Child Sponsorship to Medical Specialist
When I look back on my life, it is difficult to imagine where I would be without Help Lesotho. The organization came into my life at a time when my future felt uncertain, and through its support, guidance, and belief in me, I discovered not only my potential, but my purpose.
I first joined Help Lesotho as a beneficiary in the child sponsorship program. Growing up, I dreamed of pursuing a career in medicine, but like many young people in Lesotho, the barriers standing in front of that dream felt overwhelming. Through Help Lesotho’s support, I was able to complete my secondary education in 2011 and achieve the grades I needed to continue my studies. That opportunity changed everything for me.
Today, I am proud to say that I became a medical student at the Lesotho School of Medicine (LSOM) that was based at the National Health Training College (NHTC) in Maseru, part of the pioneer class of the only medical School of Lesotho, but completed from the Copperbelt University School of Medicine in Zambia.
Help Lesotho gave me far more than access to education. It transformed the way I saw myself and my future. Through life skills training, mentorship, and leadership opportunities, I gained confidence, self-awareness, communication skills, and a deeper understanding of the challenges facing young people in my community. I learned that leadership is not about status - it is about service, compassion, and helping others recognize their own strength.
As I grew, I was given the opportunity to become a Youth Leader. Standing in front of other young people, sharing experiences and guiding conversations about life, gender, self-esteem, and decision-making, became one of the greatest honours of my life. I began to see how one empowered young person can influence an entire community. I saw youth begin to believe in themselves, speak with confidence, and imagine futures they had never thought possible.
My journey with Help Lesotho has been deeply transformative because I have experienced the organization from both sides - first as a young person receiving support, and later as a leader helping others rise. That dual experience showed me the true power of investing in youth. When young people are given opportunity, guidance, and belief, they do not simply change their own lives; they become role models, mentors, and changemakers for others.
Today, everywhere I go, I carry the lessons Help Lesotho taught me. The organization helped mould me into the person I am today - a leader, a mentor, and someone who believes deeply in the potential of others. I often say that Help Lesotho became a light on a path that was gradually being engulfed by darkness. It reached out a hand when I needed it most, and because of that, I now spend my life reaching back to help others move forward.
For all these reasons, I can confidently say: I believe I can. And because of Help Lesotho, thousands of young people in Lesotho are beginning to believe the same thing about themselves.
