Africa-Press – Lesotho. Following eight months of entrepreneurship training workshop, the Women First Self-Help Program awarded certificates and four best performers’ rewards to those who completed
the program. Women First Self-Help Program is an initiative implemented by the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Alumni and Program Director Teboho Seboka and his team of
YALI Alumna who won the U. S Exchange Program Alumni Competition-global to facilitate a women empowerment program. The program was designed to organize
business trainings and skills development incubation where about 200 female beneficiaries learnt different business skills including practical skills which
they can use to start businesses. They were trained on beauty culture, spa therapy, and artisan and jewelry design. Seboka explained that the program started in October last year and ended this month.
He said the trainings were held in Leribe, Maseru and Mafeteng. He added that the trainings began in Leribe district whereby about 50 women participated and
were trained on jewelry design, followed by Mafeteng where they trained them on artisan and lastly Maseru where trainings were on spa therapy and beauty
culture. “Our aim is to equip Basotho women with business skills so that they can be financially independent hence there are also practical lessons within
our program so that after the training, they can be able to generate income from what they learnt,” said Seboka. He further said they had planned to host 200 participants but the turn-up was just
160 participants from the three districts. Seboka said most of the participants
are already in business and needed to refine their skills. He, therefore said they decided to offer the equipment that was used during trainings to the best
performers, saying they have four people from Maseru district who won the spa therapy equipment and beautician kit. “Our focus was also to offer the equipment to people who are already in business but do not have equipment
because our aim is to boost their businesses,” he said. He said the winners won facial steamer machines, massage beds and selfie lamps for lighting. Among
the challenges they encountered during the trainings, Seboka said COVID-19, which led to various lockdowns and therefore caused some hick ups to their
training which forced them to complete the program online. He said some people struggled a lot as a result. He said the other challenge was that they had to extend
the deadline for applications because there was a low turn up of applications submission in some districts. “Women need to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way especially if it has positively benefits,” he
added. Women First Program Facilitator ‘Mamosa Maitin congratulated the trainees for completing their journey successfully. “I wish you guys nothing but the best in your
businesses ventures because I saw when we started that some of you already own businesses and I hope this program will add value to your businesses,” she
said. One of the participants and a winner Mpoetsi Khatala thanked Woman First Program for equipping them with skills and awarding her with spa equipment.
“I intend to work corporately with the other women who also participated in the program,” she said.
