Physically stronger, mentally tougher, morally fitter – the new graduates of the Lesotho Defence Force youth bootcamp programme, supported by Vodacom Lesotho Foundation, are geared to make a contribution to their nation, both at home and at work.

When groups of young people get together in crowds, they’re typically boisterous and all over the place. But there were no such scenes of chaos among the youth who recently graduated from the Lesotho Defence Force’s youth development programme. In fact, they would make any army general proud with their orderly appearance.  

Dressed neatly in green, white and blue uniform tracksuits, the 381 graduates of the programme, known as the youth bootcamp, were proud to be presented to Prime Minister Sam Matekane at the Makoanyane Barracks, at the end of the successful completion of their three-week bootcamp. 

Lessons for life

The youth who took part in the programme learnt valuable skills that will see them through various aspects of their life. This includes learning more about teamwork, leadership and how to improve their problem-solving skills.  

The programme was started to help counter the growing problem of youth criminal syndicates known as “manomoro”. These syndicates had gripped the eastern parts of Maseru and were spreading to other parts of the country – and the army knew they had to do something to nip that growing challenge in the bud.  

Their solution was to help develop young people in a positive way, which is how the bootcamp was launched.  

The programme’s participants learn social values, ethics and discipline, helping them become morally grounded citizens, said General Mojalefa Letsoela, Commander of the Lesotho Defence Force.

Instilling national pride

Prime Minister Matekane heaped praise on the defence force for helping to shape the nation’s youth into responsible citizens. Helping them to be stronger – physically and mentally – could only benefit the country, he said.  

And, he added, the parents of the youth should be proud too because they had made sacrifices for their children to become part of something that would ultimately benefit the entire nation.  

General Letsoela echoed this praise of the parents who had enrolled their kids in the bootcamp. He was also proud of the group of graduates who had successfully learnt valuable skills that would help them in life.  

Vodacom Lesotho was happy to have supported the initiative, said Katleho Pefole, External Affairs and Policy Manager. The young people who have graduated are valuable assets with great prospects for future employment, Katleho added. He was delighted to see them equipped with values that would benefit them personally and professionally.  

Tšepo Ntaopane, EHOD for Regulatory and External Affairs at Vodacom Lesotho, shared how proud he was of the programme. Writing on LinkedIn, he praised the army for its carefully thought-out approach to the growing challenge of manomoro criminal syndicates.  

“Many were of the belief that the army ought to use brute force to enforce the law,” said Tšepo. “The army command thought otherwise and birthed a programme that is a national pride, and we are happy that our commitment to this programme has brought on board more businesses and corporates with a vision that will ensure the programme gets entrenched. 

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“We are leading and inviting more to come on board to show that as a business we can create the Lesotho we want by changing the mindset of youth. We are proud to have been part of this programme from Day 1. 

“We change lives, connect for good and connect for a better future.” 

Investing in the future

The Vodacom Lesotho Foundation was founded in 2009 and is committed to improving the lives of Lesotho’s citizens. The team drives initiatives that are in line with the government of Lesotho’s national strategic development plan and that accelerate positive social change.

Since its inception, the Foundation has invested more than 150 million maloti in the areas of youth empowerment, social welfare, female empowerment, and health and education, among other things.

Ultimately, the goal is to deliver on our social contract by supporting programmes that solve important social issues.

By the numbers

2021: The year the Lesotho youth bootcamp was created by the Lesotho Defence Force to help young people to become socially responsible citizens 

3: The number of weeks young people spend in the bootcamp 

2 700+: More than 2 700 young people between the ages of 12 and 18 have benefited from this programme since its inception 

M550 000: The investment Vodacom Lesotho has made into the programme since it started 

M250 000: The investment Vodacom Lesotho made into the programme in 2023 

2009: The year the Vodacom Lesotho Foundation was founded