TWO youths who participated in a BRICS business pitch competition in South Africa in August last year have been awarded M54 000 at an event in Maseru yesterday. Nthomeng Leuta who won the first prize was awarded M36 000 while Selloane Motsamai was awarded M18 000 by Sebabatso Initiative.
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The initiative was established by Prime Minister Sam Matekane last year to provide long-term support for Basotho youths in business development to promote self-reliance and the country’s economic development.
The duo did not get their prizes from BRICS countries because they had not registered their business ideas online as per the competition’s terms and conditions.
Sebabatso Initiative decided to award them prizes at home as a form of compensation.
The Lesotho National Development corporation (LNDC), on hearing this, decided to add M1 million to Sebabatso Initiative to give more support.
Speaking at a ceremony to award the two, the Minister of Gender, Youth and Social Development Pitso Lesaoana said Sebabatso has made milestone achievements that are beneficial to Basotho youths in a very short period of time.
“Sebabatso is making people aware of how hard the youths are working and how talented they are,” Lesaoana said.
“As part of the milestone achievements, Sebabatso took eight youths to China this year to promote their businesses,” he said.
“Sebabatso is making positive strides to help youths’ businesses grow.”
He said on May 15 and 16 this year, five more youths who joined Sebabatso went to the BRICS in South Africa for competitions.
He said he is grateful for the role played by the Central Bank of Lesotho in facilitating the trip to BRICS.
He said Sebabatso has done so much for the youths within a year of its existence.
Lesaoana said as they celebrate their first anniversary in August this year, they will start the second edition of this initiative and keep uplifting youths.
He said they want to make youths realise that they have potential and are talented.
The LNDC Chief Executive Officer, Molise Ramaili, said he was invited to partner with Sebabatso.
He said he was very happy because they already work to promote businesses.
Ramaili said all they want to do is to strategise and plan on how they could work in five years.
“I am very happy to be partners with Sebabatso because this is our chance as a corporation to help in empowering youths,” he said.
He said the M1 million that they have injected into Sebabatso is not a loan but a grant to keep empowering the youths.
He said he is pleased that Lesotho is a member of ‘Youth Konnect’ because “Basotho youths will see that they have value and can stand against other countries”.
Ramaili said they are going to keep supporting youths throughout their journey.
Leuta, speaking on behalf of the winners, said she is very happy for the opportunity to showcase their talents.
Moipone Makhoalinyane
