By Thoboloko Ntšonyane
THABA-TSEKA – The United Nations (UN) reports that plastic pollution is a leading cause of land and water degradation globally, impacting human health and biodiversity. A recent study found that plastic waste can take hundreds of years to degrade, causing long lasting damage to ecosystems.
In Lesotho, such waste management issues are further exacerbated by limited infrastructure and relevant laws. Despite being a signatory to international environmental protocols that support reduction of plastic waste and management, Lesotho is still lagging behind in this commitment.
Nthati Mary Lesala, a young woman from Thaba-Tseka, is stepping up as an advocate and championing the environmental change in her community.
Concerned by the lack of proper plastic waste management in Lesotho, Lesala has co-founded the Bokamoso Youth Cooperative Society Limited, a youth-led organization dedicated to tackling climate change and promoting sustainable practices in the region.
This drive for positive change began after Lesala witnessed firsthand the effects of unchecked plastic pollution and land degradation, which, she says, has “contributed to climate change, health risks, and economic hardship” for her community.
This has made her community-based initiatives even more critical.
By raising awareness and offering innovative solutions, Lesala hopes to inspire young people across Lesotho to lead on environmental issues.
Her journey has taken her beyond her hometown. As an alumna of the YALI Regional Leadership Center West Africa – Accra, she returned with a strong commitment to bring change to her community.
She currently serves as a Climate Tech Innovator at her cooperative, spearheading the “Not My Garbage, But My Land” initiative. This project focuses on waste management education, eco-friendly practices, and community-based clean-up efforts that contribute to environmental restoration.
In recognition of her work, Lesala was selected as one of the Earthshot Prize Youth Fellows and had last week joined Prince William in Cape Town, South Africa on November 6th for the prestigious awards ceremony. Though not among the prize winners, Lesala believes the judges were impressed by her commitment to sustainable change.
“One of the criteria for the Earthshot Prize Youth Program is to be a storyteller who uses their experience to motivate others,” she said. “The judges look for tangible actions and measurable impacts in the community, as well as the sustainability of initiatives. I believe they saw my commitment to long-term impact.”
Lesala’s impact is manifest in her innovative work, as she creates eco-friendly crafts such as ottomans, wall mirrors, carpets, storage boxes, and flower pots from recycled materials.
Her organization also hosts monthly clean-up campaigns and training sessions for local women and youth, empowering them to take climate-smart actions that contribute to lasting environmental solutions.
“It is everyone’s responsibility to take care of the environment,” she stressed. “Climate change does not discriminate, and its impacts are increasingly felt across the globe. Young people are among the most vulnerable populations to its effects, yet they have the creativity, energy, and innovation needed to address these challenges. [If] young people actively engage in climate-smart actions, they can drive change and help build a more sustainable future.”
According to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), young people in particular will bear the brunt of climate impacts, as rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns threaten food security, livelihoods, and health.
But as Lesala’s work demonstrates, there is hope in youth-led solutions and a willingness among young Basotho to take the lead of environmental leadership.
Through her initiatives, she hopes to foster a generation of environmentally conscious Basotho who see the protection of their land not only as a duty but as a pathway to a sustainable future.