Africa-Press – Lesotho. On this International Day of the Girl Child, we celebrate the boundless potential of young girls and women around the world, and we renew our commitment to empowering them with the tools they need to thrive.
Our organisation, Sentebale Foundation, was co-founded by our patrons – Prince Seeiso Bereng Seeiso of Matsieng and Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex of the British royal family in 2006 – to respond directly to the prevalent social, health and economic vulnerabilities among young children and adolescents in Lesotho.
Since then, championing the cause and dedicating ourselves to this mission has been our driving principle. Looking back, we are proud of the work that has been done and the impact that our efforts have yielded so far.
Every year on October 11, the United Nations has called on all of us globally to pause and dedicate our thoughts to the challenges faced by girls around the world and to figure out new and creative ways of promoting their empowerment, education, and rights against the backdrop of gender inequalities, discrimination, and violence against them.
Undoubtedly, the signs of progress are beginning to show, but it is worth noting that as international organisations, national governments, civil society, philanthropic communities, and individuals, we have only just scratched the surface in our quest of attaining a more equitable world.
At Sentebale, we have always designed our programme interventions to answer to the needs of adolescent girls and young women to the best of our ability and we are proud to share a few examples of our programmatic impact on adolescent girls and young women in our community.
1.Mamohato Network Clubs and Camps: We understand that some young girls and women face unique challenges, particularly those living with HIV/AIDS.
Our ‘Mamohato Network Clubs and Camps provide a safe and supportive environment for these individuals to link up with their peers to learn about the best ways to live healthy lives.
We offer assistance to children and youths who encounter treatment adherence challenges, ensuring they receive the care and attention they need during our annual camps where a dedicated team of clinical experts work tirelessly to bring everyone affected back on track to viral suppression.
Through this programme, we are breaking down barriers to healthcare access for some of the most vulnerable in our community, the majority of whom data has consistently shown to be young Basotho women.
We achieve this by partnering with the Ministry of Health, utilising the more than 90 public health centres across Lesotho to ensure safe and informative spaces for antiretroviral treatment in conjunction with our field teams.
The ‘Mamohato Network Clubs and Camps has been running since 2008 and has been reaching more than 4 000 young children from birth to adolescence annually.
2.Youth Hub: Empowering young women and their male partners with knowledge and resources is essential in preventing early pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.
Our Youth Hub programme interventions have reached over 20 100 participants in the past year alone with focus on Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC); condoms education, promotion and distribution; community mobilisation and parental engagement; referrals and linkages to sexual and gender-based violence prevention and management services to educate and empower young women and their partners about sexual and reproductive health rights and responsibilities.
By reaching 5 192 parents and guardians with these discussions in the same period, we have created a holistic approach to education and support, fostering a healthier, more informed community.
With the support of local chiefs, our civil society peers, mainstream media at all levels, we endeavour to reach all Basotho youths with information so that they can make informed lifestyle decisions, albeit at odds with cultural and topographical barriers that our dedicated teams are confronted with daily.
3. Let Youth Lead: We believe that young people should have a voice in their healthcare decisions.
Our Let Youth Lead programme has served as an advocacy platform, educating young people about available health services and encouraging their active involvement in shaping those services.
Through a community scorecard tool, youths across the country, including 10 700 females, rated health facilities in line with the minimum health standards, living up to one of our ethos: “Nothing for us without us.
” Through a wide stakeholder participation at clinic, district and national levels, young Basotho are beginning to reap the rewards of their advocacy through improved services and community dialogues.
4.Socio-Economic Strengthening Project: Recent studies have revealed that economic vulnerability is one of the root causes of a higher HIV prevalence among girls and young women, as compared to their male counterparts. Our Socio-Economic Strengthening Project aims to address this issue head-on.
We provide girls and young women with the tools and resources they need to build economic resilience, break the cycle of poverty, and reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection, typically through transactional sexual activity. By fostering financial independence, we are creating a brighter future for our young women.
The project was rolled out at the dawn of 2023 and will impact the lives of almost 1 000 young Basotho women in the areas of entrepreneurship, professional internship programme opportunities, and enrolment into vocational institutions in the four districts of Mokhotlong, Butha-Buthe, Leribe and Quthing where the need was found to be the greatest.
5. Secondary School Bursary Programme: Education is the key to unlocking opportunities, and we are committed to ensuring that no girl is left behind. Our Secondary School Bursary Programme has opened doors for countless Basotho children, 249 of whom are girls since 2019.
Over the years, we have provided support for tuition, study amenities, and transportation fares, removing barriers to education and enabling these young participants to reach their full potential.
As we reflect on the progress we have made and the challenges that lie ahead, let us remember that the empowerment of adolescent girls and young women is not just a one-day commitment; it is an ongoing journey.
Together, we can create a world where every girl has the opportunity to thrive, and where their voices are heard and valued. On this day, let us unite in our dedication to building a brighter future for the girls and young women in Lesotho and around the world.
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