Africa-Press – Lesotho. The European Union (EU) together with the Government of Lesotho and other stakeholders celebrated 35 years anniversary of the EU Education programme, Erasmus and recognition of 2022 as the European year of Youth. This celebration took place in Maseru Yesterday. Speaking at the event, Head of EU Delegation Her Excellency Paula Amadei revealed that May is Europe month and every year on the 9th May, Europe day is commemorated to mark the anniversary of Schuman Declaration as the founding act of the European project seventy-two years ago.
Her Excellency also indicated that in 2022, the Erasmus education programme is also celebrating 35 years anniversary and it has become one of the EU’s success stories with as many as 9 million people participating since its creation. “The Erasmus programme was established in 1987 as an exchange programme for higher education within the EU. Ever since, the programme has constantly been evolving and its scope extended to involve students from outside the EU including Lesotho, under the new name of Erasmus +,” she said. “Erasmus + offers opportunity for higher learning institutions to send their students and staff to Europe to teach, train or study at participating institutions.
Universities in Lesotho can in turn host incoming European students and staff from abroad. We are especially pleased to see that new partnerships and projects are created, such as the grant application of the Energy research Centre of the national University of Lesotho, together with Institutions in Finland and Sweden to support quality education on sustainable energy,” she further highlighted.
Her Excellency Amadei disclosed that during the period of 2017-2020, 17 Basotho availed themselves of the opportunities that Erasmus presented. She also established that in less
than three months, over 5.7 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee their home country and seek refuge across the whole of Europe. And that, because of the weight of Russia and Ukraine as suppliers of energy and food supplies, the invasion is having dire consequences on the global economy and global food
security, thus Lesotho feels the impact already and as is often the case, the poorest will be worst affected. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Hon Tšeliso Kalake revealed that in February, during the last AU-EU Summit in Brussells, Belgium, the youth from all over Africa and the diaspora were given a platform to discuss issues of mutual concern, education included and Lesotho was represented by a young woman, Ayesha Khuele. “Our youth are faced with a myriad of challenges as they navigate life, especially post Covid-19 pandemic.
Their studies were interrupted, study opportunities especially abroad were not possible or difficult to access, job opportunities dwindled, and generally the future was, for a moment, bleak. This celebration is therefore a welcome of opportunities as we zoom in education, therefore Lesotho is honoured,” he concluded.
One of the recipients of Erasmus + Scholarship who was successfully sponsored Lerato Mahamo expressed gratitude to the EU for the opportunity to further her studies at a Masters level.
She said it was an exceptional experience as her parents could not afford the fees and she urged many Basotho to grab this opportunity. Erasmus + is the European Union’s
programme for education, training, youth and sport for the period 2021-2027. It offers a number of opportunities for higher education students, staff and higher education institutions from around the world.
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