By: Lebohang Maluke
MASERU
– The Youth Power Hub is the project which commenced in February this year and is set to conclude in 2029. Roughly supported with M45,083,000.00 and M2,372,818.00 from European Union (EU), United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). It aims to improve decision making of Lesotho youth.
These organizations, aims to provide young people with a platform to shape their own destinies and transform their communities through inclusive and participatory decision-making.
Lesotho’s vibrant youth population is set to embark on a ground breaking initiative and this revolutionary step aims to create a bright and prosperous future for Lesotho’s youth, empowering them to unleash their potential and foster positive change within their society. The cornerstone of this initiative is the belief that meaningful youth engagement is crucial to create sustainable, positive change.
According to Mrs. Mabaruti Motsamai from UNICEF, over the course of its five-year lifespan, the Hub will reach approximately 70,000 adolescents and women from marginalized groups, providing them with the knowledge, and confidence to make informed decisions that impact their lives and communities.
Through this Hub, Lesotho’s youth will be given the opportunities to speak up and have their voices heard, shaping the policies and programs that impact their lives. By fostering a culture of engagement and participation, the Hub aims to empower the youth to become active agents of change, creating a dynamic society that reflects the aspirations and needs of its younger generations.
The transformative impact of the Hub will be felt throughout the next five years, with a strategic focus on the young adults aged 10 to 35. Its interventions will be tailored to ensure that it reaches and empowers a broad spectrum of youth, with a special emphasis on adolescent girls and young women, who often face unique barriers to participation and decision-making.
This universal approach seeks to create an equitable and inclusive environment where all youth, regardless of gender, can thrive and contribute to the future of Lesotho, igniting a powerful wave of youth-led change that will echo for generations to come.
Indeed, it is committed to leaving no one behind.
The initiative recognizes the importance of reaching and empowering all youth, including those with disabilities, those living in rural areas, migrants, and those residing in the diaspora. By engaging with these diverse youth populations, the Hub aims to capture the full potential and richness of Lesotho’s youth, harnessing the creativity, innovation, and expertise of its future leaders, regardless of their circumstances or location.
At the heart of the Youth Power Hub lies a powerful vision of a Lesotho that embraces and empowers its youth, leveraging their voices to build a society that is both inclusive and resilient.
The initiative seeks to amplify and harness the diverse voices of youth, turning their opinions, concerns, and ideas into concrete actions that strengthen communities and foster a culture of collaboration and understanding. Through Hub, youth will have a potent tool to enact positive change and forge a path towards a brighter, more equitable future for all.
However, the EU’s generous contribution of EUR 2,457,000, amounting to roughly LSL 45,083,000, serves as a cornerstone, enabling the initiative to take flight and effect real change for Lesotho’s youth.
In addition to the EU’s support, UNICEF committed EUR 117,719.618, or approximately LSL 2,372,818, to bolster this ambitious project. This vital investment underscores the deep commitment of both organizations to the future of Lesotho’s young people and their unwavering belief in the transformative potential of youth-led change.
The Minister of Gender, Youth and Social Development, Hon Lesaoana Pitso, speaks with passion and conviction at the launch of the Youth Power Hub, expressing the government’s commitment to empowering youth and amplifying the voices of the most marginalized in society.
This Hub embodies commitment to empowering youth, particularly adolescent girls and boys, women, and persons with disabilities, by recognizing and fostering their unique contributions to national progress.
Hon. Pitso’s words resounds with a sense of urgency and determination as he further shares that the Youth National Bill, a critical piece of legislation, has already been presented to parliament for deliberation.
The youth showcase innovative ideas and active engagement of the country’s youth, with healthcare emerging as a critical concern. They voice for greater privacy in accessing health services and proposed creative solutions. The Hub reflects as a growing recognition that future of health and development to shape their own destinies and create positive change.
Bill, an important step in securing the rights and opportunities of youth, already been introduced to parliament, reflecting resolve to enact policies that ensure that every young person is given the chance to thrive in contribution to political and economic development.
As Lesotho’s Youth Power Hub carves its path forward, the initiative’s far-reaching scope aims to transform the landscape of youth engagement in the country, strengthening and empowering grassroots civil society organizations, fostering online spaces for youth to engage in dialogue and share their stories, and creating a platform for their voices to be heard.
It ensures that every young person, no matter their background or circumstances, is given the chance to contribute to the progress of their communities and their country, shaping a more inclusive, vibrant, and youth-driven future for Lesotho.