Africa-Press – Lesotho. THE former Features Editor of thepost, ’Mapule Motsopa, has won two prizes at the Adolescents Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Journalism Awards.
She won the first and fourth prizes for her stories on child protection, early marriages, and early and unintended pregnancies as well as sexual reproduction rights and education for children.
They had to meet the quality of features and offer solutions. Journalists were judges on a group of stories they published. The competition was organised by MISA Lesotho in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Motsopa, who recently joined the government’s Lesotho News Agency, said she was grateful to all the sponsors who saw potential in Basotho journalists. MISA-Lesotho representative Boitumelo Koloi said the awards were meant to promote the coverage and awareness of the challenges faced by the youths.
“This is meant to encourage you to do more in raising awareness on what the young people are facing,” said Thuto Ntšekhe Mokhehle, an official from the Ministry of Education.
Mokhehle said 90 percent of pregnancies happen between 15 and 19 years old. She said teenage pregnancies are high for girls in remote and poor areas. “Even families with the lowest income bracket experience the problem of their girls falling pregnant and dropping out of school,” Mokhehle said. Mokhehle said many young girls end up dropping out of school due to pregnancies.
For More News And Analysis About Lesotho Follow Africa-Press
