Africa-Press – Lesotho. Numerous challenges facing the youth were identified during a high level mission organised by the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development in partnership with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Mokhotlong on Thursday.
The purpose of the mission was to tour facilities utilized by the youth, that included Youth Centre and Adolescent Health Corner and see how they can be resuscitated into a proper information hub for youth growth and empowerment.
Herders at Matsoaing School of Shepherds were also visited to engage with them and hear from them on how they want to be supported in as far as Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and other issues are concerned.
The mission was made up of the Minister of Gender, Youth and Social Development, Mr. Pitso Lesaoana, UNFPA Representative in Lesotho, Mr. John Mosoti and Chief Executive Officers from Vodacom Lesotho, Mr. Mohale Ralebitso, Lets’eng Diamonds Mine, Mr. Motsoane Thinyane and Polihali Operations Branch Manager, Mr. Gerard Mokone, under the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority.
SolidarMed Lesotho as one of the partners to the Ministry of Health was represented by its Country Director Ms. Mamello Letsie.
The mission, during the tour, realized that the youth centre was dilapidated and needs to be revamped to make it more habitable.
The tour ended with round table discussion which engaged youth to speak out on the challenges and areas where they need support most.
On the same note, the Minister of Gender Mr. Lesaoana expressed appreciation over the companies physical presence in Mokhotlong for the mission intended to come up with initiatives that can support the youth.
The Minister said the government is committed to supporting young people in Lesotho to become agents of change and urged them to also be ready to change for their own development.
One of the youth, Realeboha Ts’ehlana of Thaba Bosiu in Mokhotlong said they need to be supported with resuscitation of the Youth Centre and sporting facilities for both boys and girls so as to participate in activities that can improve the talent they already have.
He mentioned the need for free internet to allow them to access information on time, adding that Mokhotlong youth are always left behind with information regarding issues that could be of benefit to them.
Ts’ehlana further said they also need training on agriculture related issues so that they can embark on agricultural activities for commercial purposes.
Another youth, Boinako Mosebi of Matamong said there is a need for the education system to be improved so that it becomes relevant even outside the classrooms.
Other challenges that were raised included high teenage pregnancy, child marriage and gender based violence.
In their reflections the aforementioned Chief Executive Officers of both Vodacom Lesotho and Lets’eng Diamonds Mine said they are willing to support the youth so that they get empowered but urged the youth to also take charge and do things differently for their growth and development.
Meanwhile, the UNFPA Representative, Mr. Mosoti thanked the Chief Executive Officers for honouring the invite to Mokhotlong to get first hand information on what needs to be done for the youth.
He guaranteed support from UNFPA through its programmes implemented towards improving the lives of Basotho youth so that they can achieve the future they envisioned.
This was the first mission of its kind to be conducted in the district involving the Private Sector’s top management physically.
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