Africa-Press – Lesotho. Gender Empowerment, Entrepreneurship and Media (GEM) Institute and Lesotho National Commission for UNESCO have on Friday announced their ongoing projects on technology, book publishing and film production.
These projects are reportedly meant for schools engagement and to foster youth in their creative and entrepreneurial ventures. GEM Institute Programs Manager Zanele Selebalo said the institute works
with children in both primary and high schools across the country, whom they train on technology, film and fashion. She said they are currently working on a
project called Act for Climate Change, which is mandated to raise awareness on issues of climate change that has weighed the country, and how to reduce its
effects. Selebalo further stated that they have so far visited nine districts in the country, where they also introduced a competition on essay writing whereby they give out
topics for girls from all the districts to write essays and submit them for compilation into one book. The first book was called Love at First Click and it is meant to share inspiring stories and
encourage women to take part in the creative industry. On their advocacy for climate change, GEM Institute has collaborated with the youth in Thaba-Tseka to plant 150 trees.
Also as another means to empower youth, they have recycled jeans and taught another group how to make bags and cushions staffed with old recycled clothes.
Selebalo mentioned that these are ongoing projects with which they intend to great employment opportunities for unskilled youth and at the same time reduce the impact of climate change.
Meanwhile, GEM Institute Coordinator ‘Matauli Mokete added that they invite youth under Creative Awards, to a boot camp where they will be sensitized on technology, fashion and film and also get a chance to create projects
to address climate change. She said these can be created under Green-Tech Awards, 72 Hr Green Film Projects Awards or Designer Green Carpet Awards category.
The GEM Institute Founder Mpho Letima also stated that these projects are not competitions but opportunities for youth to use their creativity in changing
the economy of the country. “It is a way of advising youth to engage in matters of the economy, to brainstorm what alternatives and strategies they are going
to use in changing the economy. There are gifts to be awarded for those who will surpass others, not because they are the best, but because they deserve motivation in order to continue creating more projects which will inspire job creation,” she explained.
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