Rebuilding Dignity Through Infrastructure: Seboka Primary School
Implemented by: rise International
In Partnership With: AIT— Action Ireland Trust and Quinn Family Foundation
Date: 30/09/2025
Full View of Seboka Primary SchoolWritten By: Minah Lekau & Pusetso Booi
Background: A Community’s Hope, Challenged by Reality
Nestled in the heart of Ha Matala, a peri-urban area on the outskirts of Maseru, Lesotho, Seboka Primary School stands as a vital centre of education and hope. Serving more than 700 children from neighbouring villages, the school is more than just a place to learn; it’s a lifeline for hundreds of families who dream of a brighter future for their children. But for years, the daily reality inside Seboka’s gates painted a different, troubling picture.
Everyday Struggles: The Hidden Crisis
Despite the dedication of its teachers and the determination of its students, Seboka Primary School was plagued by unsafe and undignified learning conditions:
Nutritional Deficiency: For many learners, the school meal is the only food they receive all day, yet the lack of vegetables and balanced nutrition means it often fails to meet their basic dietary needs. This not only affects their physical development but also their ability to concentrate and learn.
Unsafe Kitchen: Meals, essential for young learners’ health and focus, were prepared in an open, unsanitary space exposed to the elements. Rain or strong winds often brought meal preparation to a halt, leaving students hungry or forcing them to eat late, interrupting their studies and sapping their energy. Beyond these immediate challenges, the cooks themselves suffered from constant smoke inhalation due to the reliance on open wood fires, a serious health hazard, such as chronic respiratory issues, eye irritation, and long-term lung damage. This method of cooking also had environmental consequences, requiring the regular cutting down of trees for firewood and contributing to air pollution and deforestation.
Seboka Primary School kitchen
Lack of Sanitation: The school’s few old pit latrines were overcrowded, unsafe, and lacked even the most basic privacy. Long queues formed at break time, and many children, especially girls, were forced to sacrifice their dignity or miss school during menstruation due to the lack of running water, privacy, and secure toilets.
Seboka Primary School toilets
Basic Needs Unmet: Every day, students arrived at Seboka without the guarantee of clean water, safe sanitation, or a reliable meal. These daily hardships not only affected their health and learning but also eroded their self-worth and hope for the future.
These conditions created a vicious cycle: unsafe facilities led to poor attendance and disengagement, further straining the school’s limited resources. Yet, throughout it all, Seboka’s staff and learners showed incredible resilience, refusing to give up on their right to a safe, nurturing environment. View the video here.
Turning the Page: A Call for Change
Seboka Primary School’s story is not unique—many schools across Lesotho face similar challenges. But it’s also a story of a community ready for transformation. At rise International, we believe that every child deserves to learn in safety and dignity.
What did we do next?
Discover how the Seboka story turned from neglect to hope—and how partnership, innovation, and community action made a difference.
Methodology: Needs-Based Implementation
The Seboka Primary School project used a rigorous, evidence-driven methodology focused on real needs, community participation, and sustainable change.
Needs Assessment: On-site evaluation identified urgent health, safety, and dignity gaps for 700+ students.
Participatory Design: Teachers, parents, students, and technical experts co-designed every solution, ensuring practical results and local ownership.
Evidence-Based Planning: Facilities were fully designed for durability, accessibility, and hygiene before construction.
Sustainable Implementation: Eco-friendly building methods and local capacity ensured long-term benefit.
Policy Alignment: The project advances Lesotho Ministry of Education’s National Guidelines for WASH in Schools (2022), School Health and Nutrition Policy (2019), and Education Sector Plan (2016–2026)—delivering on national goals for safe, healthy, and inclusive learning environments.
SDG Impact: Seboka’s upgrade directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:
The Solution: School Infrastructure Upgrade
Action Ireland Trust – AIT at Seboka Primary School
Recognising the urgent need, rise International, thanks to the support of Action Ireland Trust and the Quinn Family Foundation, delivered a holistic infrastructure upgrade for Seboka Primary School. The project focused on sustainable, practical, and high-impact solutions to restore dignity and safety for every learner.
Key Upgrades Delivered:
✅ A New Kitchen
A modern kitchen was built using sustainable sandbag construction methods, was designed and constructed by the in loco fellows in collaboration with Ubu, a leading sandbag construction company from South Africa. This new facility now allows for safe, clean, and efficient food preparation for all students.
Kitchen built with sandbags
🚻 Flushing Toilets with Handwashing Stations
Three new toilet blocks—separate facilities for boys, girls, and teachers—were constructed. Each block is equipped with flushing toilets and handwashing stations, finally providing safe, private, dignified, and hygienic sanitation for all.
💧 Reliable Borehole Water System
A borehole water system was installed, ensuring a reliable and clean water supply for drinking, sanitation, and daily school operations. This is a foundational shift for health, hygiene, and overall school functioning.
💧Rainwater harvesting System
A rainwater harvesting system was implemented to promote water sustainability on site. Collected rainwater is used for everyday needs such as hand washing, cleaning, and watering plants, reducing reliance on external water sources and supporting a more self-sufficient and eco-friendly environment.
🌱 Greenhouse Food Garden
Two new greenhouses and food gardens now support the school’s feeding program, providing fresh vegetables for meals. Excess produce is sold in local markets, raising some income for the school. Beyond nutrition and generating some income for the school, the garden serves as a practical, hands-on educational tool—teaching students about sustainability, agriculture, and environmental stewardship.
Impact Highlight
🌟Number of Lives Impacted;
Over 700 students and staff now benefit from improved school infrastructure, including access to safe sanitation, clean water, and hygienic food preparation facilities, and a food garden that supports nutrition and learning
- The kitchen contributes to improved efficiency and reduced food insecurity by streamlining food preparation and ensuring better resource utilisation
“The kitchen has completely changed the way we serve our students. Meals are now clean, safe, and always ready on time. It’s such a relief to know our children are eating healthy food every day, it gives them the strength to focus, learn, and grow without the constant worry of hunger.”
Teacher, Victor Mosheoa
🪑 Improved Health, Hygiene, and Dignity
The construction of new separate toilet blocks and handwash station facilities for girls, boys, and teachers has dramatically improved sanitation and privacy at Seboka Primary School. They are hygienic, safe, and accessible for all students.
“Thanks to your support, our new toilets have changed everything! I feel safe, comfortable, and proud to be at school every day. Your help has made my school a place where I want to be, thank you, Student, Ts’epo Molise
🍽️ Financial Impact
The school’s new greenhouse food garden is transforming lives. Fresh vegetables like cabbage and peppers not only boost our school feeding program, but also generate over M1,000/$60 per month in income each month through community sales.
📈 Infrastructure Resilience
The kitchen is fully functional and structurally sound; however, high electricity costs pose a challenge to its regular use. Similarly, while the toilets are in good condition, the borehole does not yield enough water to support daily use. As a result, the toilets are only usable when sufficient rainwater is collected through the harvesting system.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to Rise International, AIT, and the Quinn Family Foundation for the incredible transformation they’ve brought to our school. The new kitchen, toilets, borehole, and greenhouse have changed our daily lives, giving us dignity, safety, and hope. What you have given us is so much more than infrastructure; you’ve given our children a real chance to learn, grow, and dream. We are truly thankful for your support.” Principal Mafaesa Mosia
What’s Next?
While Seboka Primary School’s transformation is a powerful example of what’s possible, hundreds of schools across Lesotho remain in urgent need of similar support.
- Out of approximately 1,478 primary schools in Lesotho, at least 15% still lack basic toilet facilities, and many more operate without reliable water or safe, hygienic kitchens.
- Large-scale initiatives are underway, but the gap remains significant, especially for schools in rural and underserved communities.
rise International is committed to scaling this impact.
Our Next Steps:
- Expanding Reach: We aim to replicate Seboka’s success by upgrading infrastructure at more schools most in need, with a focus on safe sanitation, clean water, and resilient kitchens.
- Strengthening Partnerships: Working with Lesotho’s Ministry of Education, local communities, and committed partners, as we seek to leverage resources and expertise for greater, lasting change.
- Ensuring Sustainability: Training local teams and embedding maintenance plans to keep new facilities in excellent condition for years to come.
- Measuring Impact: Ongoing monitoring and feedback will help us continually improve and demonstrate real, long-term benefits for learners.
