…urges Peace Corps volunteers to embrace challenges as learning opportunities
Lebohang Tsatsi
MASERU, Lesotho – Her Majesty Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso Bereng has praised the Peace Corps’ dedication and willingness to nurturing goodwill and progress within Lesotho’s societies.
The Queen said this during the swearing in ceremony of the 91st cohort of the Peace Corps at Marakabei in Maseru, this week.
She applauded the Peace Corps for devoting their time, skills and compassion to Lesotho’s development.
Addressing the new cohort, Her Majesty reminded them of the challenges that awaited them and said they should embrace them as learning and growing opportunities.
Her Majesty thanks Marakabei community for supporting Peace Corps
She also extended her gratitude for the support that the Marakabei community had afforded the volunteers during the language, customs and norms learning process.
“Let us remember that the essence of the volunteers lies not only in the projects you undertake as volunteers, or the initiatives you spearhead, but in the relationships you forge, the bonds you nurture, and the lives you touch,” she said.
Peace and friendship were vital in creating a universe where empathy and “mutual exchange” flourished, she said.
Peace Corps making positive impact in Basotho lives
In a speech read on his behalf, health minister, Selibe Mochoboroane, acknowledged the volunteers for their immense contribution in serving peace and making positive changes in the lives of others.
He said the new cohort was expected to intervene in improving HIV prevention among adolescents while also engaging in the strengthening of health systems supply chain and data management.
The new cohort arrived at an “opportune time when there is shortage of data clerks in health facilities”. Therefore, their role would be alleviating the data collection burden in the facilities they will be attached to.
Lesotho received its first cohort of Peace Corps volunteers in 1967 and the education ministry last year signed a new memorandum of understanding for more volunteers after a revision of the country’s education programme.
The education ministry partner with the Peace Corps to provide support to primary learners to increase literacy, numeracy and life skills. This is on the understanding that an individual’s literacy and numeracy can have a positive impact on their economic earning potential and the well-being of the family.
Ambassador Brewer highlights Peace Corps’ commitment towards ending HIV and Aids
US Ambassador to Lesotho, Maria Brewer said the Peace Corps were committed to ending HIV and Aids by 2030.
“Before I swear in the new Peace Corps, I would like to extend my appreciation to the Lesotho government and local institutional partners for their unwavering dedication and support. My sincere gratitude to the wonderful Peace Corps’ staff, while Marakabei community is also not left behind,” she said.
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Peace Corps Lesotho director, Randa Wilkinson, said while celebrating 56 years of collaboration with Lesotho, they were witnessing the embodiment of a commitment to service, peace, and cultural exchange.
To date, Lesotho has welcomed 2 641 volunteers in education, health, community economic development, agriculture and the environment.
After a Covid-19 induced sabbatical, Peace Corps deployments resumed last year with 16 volunteers who positively impacted the lives of nearly 4 000 youths and their communities across six lowland districts. Almost 3 000 learners have increased their literacy and numeracy skills, and over 1 000 young people have been reached with HIV prevention messaging and life skills.
