News

Stories of Impact in Africa with AIT

May 7, 2025By 1 Comment

rise International was privileged to host 90 dedicated volunteers from Action Ireland Trust (AIT), including high school students, parents, architects, and AIT management. This dynamic collaboration exemplifies the power of international cooperation in achieving meaningful change.

The AIT volunteers brought incredible energy and enthusiasm to the 5Hub Schools project, enriching the community with vibrant cultural exchange.

Transforming Education Infrastructure: The Makoanyane Primary School Project

Together with AIT, we’re revolutionizing early childhood education at Makoanyane Primary School in Maseru. Two shipping containers, generously donated from Ireland, are being transformed into a state-of-the-art creche facility. This nurturing space will provide a safe, stimulating environment for early childhood development and skills-building, addressing a critical need in the community.

Project Highlights:

Impact: This project will provide a strong foundation for young learners, fostering their growth and development.

Innovative Design: The creches interior and exterior are being meticulously crafted to create a child-friendly, vibrant, and educational space.

Local Ownership: We are proud of rise International’s pioneers and staff, who took over ensuring the project’s successful completion and long-term sustainability.

AIT’s Generous Donation: Strengthening Healthcare in Lesotho

rise International facilitated the donation of essential medical equipment by AIT to two local organizations: Starlight Oasis of Hope Hospice and Intellectual Disability and Autism Lesotho (IDAL). This generous contribution included wheelchairs, hospital beds, crutches, and zimmer frames, significantly enhancing the capacity of these organizations to provide vital care to vulnerable populations.

Collaborations and Partnership

Cultivating Lesotho’s Future Leaders

rise International is committed to empowering the next generation of changemakers. Our recent Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) program (26 February – 1 April 2025) connected students from:

This cross-cultural initiative addressed the critical theme of “Analyzing Building Materials in Lesotho for Affordable Housing.” Students explored sustainable housing solutions, with a focus on:

Environmental Sustainability: NTU students evaluated the ecological footprint of local materials, promoting environmental responsibility.

Economic Analysis: NUL students conducted cost analyses of various building materials, emphasizing affordability for low-income households.

Social Impact: LP students assessed the social impact of different construction materials, considering community acceptance, safety, and cultural relevance.

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News

January 2025 Highlights

February 13, 2025By 0 comment

We hope that 2025 has started well for you.  As we step into the 2nd month of 2025, we are filled with optimism and enthusiasm for the journey ahead. We are delighted to share updates on our ongoing projects and the incredible progress being made thanks to your continued support.

Progress in Mokhotlong with SolidarMed Lesotho

Our partnership with SolidarMed Lesotho is off to a strong start. The design phase of the new youth center and health and community facility in the highlands of Mokhotlong District is underway and is expected to be completed by Mid March.   This innovative shipping container conversion into a youth centre which is being executed by our 2019 Pioneer, Bokang Tjakotja who founded BEEK Projects,  is a testament to the power of sustainable design and our pioneers’ dedication to creating meaningful solutions for underserved communities. We look forward to sharing more updates as this transformative project progresses.

Empowering Pioneers Through Collaboration

January marked another milestone for our Pioneer Business Incubation Program. We continue to guide and equip our Pioneers with collaborative skills through clusters designed to enhance collaboration and skill-building dynamic workshops focused on project management, equipping our pioneers with essential tools to lead impactful initiatives. The Mokhotlong project continues to showcase the strength of this program by providing social enterprise opportunities for our Pioneers to thrive. 

We also see other Pioneers benefiting from the clusters with a recent infrastructure project where our 2019 Pioneer Seabata Motanya who founded XYZ Collaborative and Peter Makhetha who founded PRO Construction were working side by side paving sidewalks in Lesotho’s capital city, Maseru. 

Upcoming Initiatives for 2025

rise will be coordinating a collaborative research project between Nottingham Trent University (NTU), Lerotholi Polytechnic (LP), and the National University of Lesotho (NUL). The project focuses on analyzing building materials for affordable housing, with NUL Economics students assessing costs, LP Architecture students examining social impact, and NTU students evaluating environmental sustainability.

Six interdisciplinary student groups will conduct a comparative assessment of locally available materials, culminating in a final online presentation of their findings. This initiative fosters international collaboration and aims to inform sustainable and cost-effective housing solutions in Lesotho.

This year, we are excited to expand our efforts in promoting sustainable building practices and entrepreneurship. Key initiatives include:

  • Continued research and advocacy for hempcrete construction in Lesotho, with a focus on affordable and eco-friendly housing solutions.
  • Completion of the Stadium of Life project, with the next phase set to focus on the conclusion of Biodiversity Stand.

How can we ensure that every young person, regardless of background, has an equal chance to succeed? Whether it’s through mentorship, referrals,   or simply spreading the word about the work we do with our in loco fellowship and Pioneer Business Incubation Program — every action counts.

We are incredibly grateful for your support, and we have no doubt that together, we can make an even greater impact this year. Let’s keep pushing forward. Let’s keep believing in the power of entrepreneurship, innovation and collaboration. Let’s make 2025 a year of action, hope, and change.

Thank You for Your Support

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News

Empowering Communities Through Innovation: rise International partners with SolidarMed Lesotho’s Youth Center Project

February 11, 2025By 0 comment

rise International is proud to announce an impactful new partnership with SolidarMed Lesotho, marking the beginning of a transformative project in Mokhotlong District. The initiative focuses on the design and construction of a youth center and health and community facility in the highlands, aimed at providing much-needed support and opportunities for young people in the region.

The project, currently in its construction phase, is expected to be completed by early-March 2025. It is a remarkable example of sustainable architecture, as it involves the innovative conversion of shipping containers into a fully functional and dynamic youth center. This approach not only reduces construction costs and environmental impact but also ensures durability and adaptability to the community’s needs.

At the heart of this initiative is Bokang Tjakotja, a graduate of rise International’s in loco fellowship program and a 2019 Pioneer. Bokang, through his company BEEK Projects, is leading the execution of this project, showcasing the strength of rise International’s incubation program in empowering young professionals to drive social change. His work highlights the potential of sustainable construction methodologies to create lasting solutions for underserved communities.

The youth center and health and community facility will serve as a safe and engaging space for young people, offering various programs and resources to support their personal and professional growth. It will also provide essential health services and act as a hub for community-driven initiatives.

This collaboration between rise International and SolidarMed Lesotho is a testament to the power of partnerships in addressing social challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions. As the project progresses, we look forward to sharing more updates and witnessing the positive impact it will have on the Mokhotlong community.

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News

Closing off an impactful year!

December 19, 2024By 0 comment

This year, rise International has made significant strides across our three core pillars: Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development, Promoting Social Enterprise, and Innovative Building Methodologies. 

Let’s take a moment to celebrate the highlights from Q2&Q3 and share our vision for the future.

Read Quarterly report here

Enhancing School Infrastructure Through the 5 Hub Schools Program

Thanks to the support of Action Ireland Trust and in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training, we completed several impactful projects, including the construction of  new flushing toilet blocks for Lithabaneng Primary School. We also distributed 39 pressure cookers to five schools, streamlining their daily operations and improving overall efficiency.

Sod turning Events at Makoanyane and Leqele Primary Schools
We recently marked the beginning of two exciting new projects at Makoanyane and Leqele Primary Schools where new ablution blocks will be built for the 1500 learners who currently have to use very unhygienic and inadequate pit latrines with no running water.

The schools toilets currently

Our work with Action Ireland Trust enabled significant support for local schools, while our partnership with the British High Commission laid the groundwork for future collaborations aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and green growth in Lesotho.

Innovative Building Methodologies

Breaking New Ground with Sustainable Construction – Countdown to conclusion of Stadium of Life

The Kick4Life Stadium of Life project in Maseru is a testament to the potential of sustainable building. Using FSC-certified timber, we have completed the West seating stand and we are about to complete the  South stand. The stadium fencing is now 95% complete, and we’re gearing up for the next milestone—the completion of the Biodiversity Stand.

Collaborating with SolidarMed in Lesotho

We recently began an exciting partnership with SolidarMed Lesotho, an international non-profit that improves health care for 1.5 million people in Lesotho, Moçambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, through infrastructure development and quality health services. In this partnership we are to design and construct a new youth centre in a health and community facility in the highlands of the Mokhotlong District. This project aligns with our mission to create sustainable and impactful solutions for underserved communities.

Potential Collaboration with Skate World Better

We’re thrilled to have also welcomed the Founder of Skate World Better, Martin and his associates, all the way from the Czech Republic, to Maseru, Lesotho!  They are a non-profit organization building skateparks around Africa on a mission to support kids and young adults through skateboarding.This visit marked the beginning of a potential collaboration with rise International to explore how skateboarding can drive youth development and inspire change in our communities.

Click Here to Get Involved

Looking Ahead

As we plan for 2025, we’re excited to expand our initiatives and deepen our impact. From launching new community projects to advancing sustainable building practices, our mission to create lasting change remains steadfast.

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rise News

Young Female Mosotho Architect wins National Student Architecture Award in South Africa

July 26, 2022By 0 comment

Mpho Sephelane, a young Mosotho Architect is the winner of the 35th Corobrik Student Architecture Awards, walking away with a R70 000 cash prize. These awards are said to have been inducted in 1986 and are the only competition of its kind dedicated to Masters Architectural students in South Africa (Corobik (Pty) Ltd, 2022).

This year 8 major South African universities selected their best Masters Architectural student, who presented their thesis to a panel of judges who were professionals from the South African Architecture Industry. 

Mpho was selected by the University of Cape Town, School of Architecture to present her thesis which was titled ‘Re[covering] Place: African ways of seeing, thinking and making as a call to rethink and remake places in cities’.

She brought a piece of her heritage by describing the use of the Basotho blanket as a transformative and imaginative symbol of identity and relevance. It is true that knowing where we come from and holding onto our culture and heritage is our unique compass. 

Talk about breaking boundaries! When asked how she felt about winning the award, she stated “I am still ecstatic and honored to have received such a prestigious award. It has proven to be the validation that I and other students like myself needed to drive us forward in owning our narratives in architecture. I am also extremely thankful for the overwhelming support I received during my studies and now, it is truly humbling.” She further expressed that if given the chance to speak to her 21-year-old self this is what she would tell her “Just start; you will be unsure, you won’t always get it right and you will be misunderstood, but do it anyway. Lastly, I’d tell 21-year-old Mpho to never stop learning and to celebrate her wins, no matter how small.”

Mpho reiterates that the opportunity afforded to her has validated a lot of what her fellow students, especially people who connect with their culture, have been struggling with – the issue of translating who they are and what their culture entails and the values they bring to their everyday lives and professions.

“The journey is really a beginning for me as I am excited to continue to collaborate and learn from other cultures about such ideas of translation and preservation.” – Mpho


Congratulations to Mpho Sephelane. Thank you for being an inspiration to younger generations of Basotho Architects – rise

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rise News

Lesotho exhibits at Triennale Milan, Italy for the first time

July 18, 2022By 0 comment

More exposure internationally for the Mountain Kingdom as Lesotho is awarded a pavilion at the prestigious Triennale Museum in Milan, Italy, one of the world’s leading cultural institutions. This year Triennale Milano takes up and continues the important reflections that emerged from the last edition; Broken Nature, ensuring critical continuity with its proactive approach. The exhibition is conceived as a space for open, wide-ranging debates and exchanges of views, where different experiences, cultures, and perspectives can converge. The title of this 23rd International Exhibition is “Unknown Unknowns”, it offers itself to visitors as a rediscovery of mysteries.

Did you know that we only know a paltry 5% of the universe? Lesotho, a landlocked country in South Africa, is part of that 95% of the world still unknown to many. The research for the pavilion was conducted by Giada Zuan, on behalf of rise and the Milan-based architecture AOUMM, under the leadership of Luca Astorri, rise‘s lead architect and co-Founder of AUOMM. The research found that the Kingdom of the Sky through water forms an essential element of the country’s identity. “Lesotho Water Realms: a visual research on geopolitics, society, and rituals” offers the visitors three-dimensional scales between landscape, human proximity, and spirituality, through an assemblage of visual fragments.

The Lesotho Pavillion was visited by His Excellency Ambassador of Lesotho in Italy Thesele John Maseribane along with the Founder of rise, CEO of AOUMM, and Lead Researcher Giada Zuan (Pictured). 

Watch this short clip of the pavilion

Credits:

Lead researcher: Giada Zuan

Curators: Luca Astorri and Matteo Poli, , AOUMM, Daniela Gusman, rise

Team: Retsepile Rammoko, Valentina Riverso, Pedro Clarke; A+ Architecture , James Melson, 

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rise News

 Everyday is World Youth Skills day at rise

July 15, 2022By 0 comment

Everyday is World Youth Skills day at rise

The United Nations declared July 15th World Youth Skills Day to be the day we all celebrate the importance of youth training and skills development. This day is dedicated to providing young people with opportunities to improve their skills by participating in programs designed to develop their entrepreneurial and work skills.

Skills development is at the core of our work at rise which is why the in loco fellowship program was created and launched 5 years ago. It is a “learning-by-doing” program where local graduates from the Design, Architecture, and Built Environment fields are awarded practical hands-on work experience while equipped with the skills to set up and run successful enterprises. We have had 3 successful cohorts since 2018 and are proud that 93% of our in loco fellows who graduate, called Pioneers, are now in self or full-time employment. 

We are thrilled to announce that this year, we are piloting new ways of achieving our mission of youth skills development by partnering with Lesotho’s Ministry of Finance and their apprenticeship program for unemployed youth from which we are selecting the fellows. 

Furthermore, we will be building a primary school kitchen using sandbag technology – they are fire-resistant, have good thermal efficiency qualities, and will lead to a possible affordable housing solution. 

Developing the skills of the youth is at the heart of rise, every day is World Youth Skills day with us. Join our community of supporters and Subscribe to be a donor here.

Photo by Rets’epile Rammoko

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Case Studies

An inclusive office for the Lesotho National Federation of Organizations of the Disabled

June 29, 2022By 0 comment

Background

The Lesotho National Federation of Organizations of the Disabled (LNFOD) is an umbrella body of organizations dealing with disability in Lesotho. LNFOD advocates for, promotes, and defends the rights of people with disabilities and their families through provision of training, material and emotional support, and by representing their needs to government, development partners and the wider community. 

The Problem

The building in which LNFOD used as their office was not accessible and inclusive of people living with disabilities. There were no ramps, sliding doors, or rails in the toilets. There were no pavements on the outside of the building making it difficult for people who use wheelchairs to access the building. There were also no guiding blocks to assist blind people and signage for general guidance and warnings. The building had poor ventilation and lacked thermal insulation. In essence, the office did not allow for the organization to employ people with disabilities nor fully carry out services for people with disabilities because of  lack of accessibility.

The Solution

rise built a new all inclusive office in Naleli, Maseru the capital city of Lesotho. This building is the first one of its kind in the country catering completely for people with different disabilities. It has a ramp for easy access for people with physical disabilities, the doors are wide to allow  wheelchair access, there are rails in the bathroom, the walls are made of textured tiles for guidance for people with blindness or eye sight impairment. The building has insulation in the ceiling as well as a cavity wall for insulation which makes it warm in winter and cool in summer. It is also designed such that there is a separate entrance for the boardroom and toilets allowing LNFOD to rent out the boardroom to external entities as an income generating source because social enterprise is the heart of rise.

Methodology

With the support of funds from Sedlak GmbH and Brotfür die Welt, the rise in loco cohort of 2020 designed and constructed this building. in loco is rise’s learning by doing program where 

Young Basotho graduates from the design, architecture and built environment fields come together as a fellowship and learn practical skills. This way, graduates gained practical skills while the LNFOD community gained an inclusive office space.

Challenges

The site available for the building was very small, as was the budget for this project. Moreover this building was constructed during the Covid-19 pandemic, movement restrictions due to the pandemic restricted a lot of activities and decreased morale on site. People on site had to work with each other but still maintain Covid-19 protocol which was new and uncomfortable. Construction materials prices kept increasing due to high transport costs and restricted movements which further challenged an already budget-restricted project. Hardware stores would often run out of stock, which challenged progress on site. The International partners were not able to visit the project.

The Impact

LNFOD is a national umbrella body of organizations of persons with disabilities and therefore works for an estimated 56 000 people in Lesotho according to census (2016). LNFOD now employs more than 10 people with different disabilities and can provide even more services because of their fully inclusive new headquarters office building.

Testimonials

Nkhasi Sefuthi – Director of LNFOD

“We now have accessible toilets and ramps that make the office accessible for all people with disabilities including those using wheelchairs. We are now able to conduct our work efficiently even without the disturbances we used to have in our previous working space.”

SEDLAK GmbH and Diakonie/Brot für die Welt – Sponsors of the project

“We are proud to have supported the first accessible and inclusive office building in Lesotho. The construction of the LNFOD offices in Naleli is a milestone for disability organizations in Lesotho and will hopefully serve as a role model for other accessible buildings throughout the country.” 

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News

rise’s work on Universal Design 

June 13, 2022By 0 comment

 

rise’s work on Universal Design 

We often say that we are inclusive of all communities, or that we are restructuring society to be understanding and empathic of all, especially the marginalized. But to which extent? The lack of inclusivity in urban planning does not only separate us by weaknesses and strengths, but it deprives us of some of the joys of the environment like urban spaces, access to green spaces and even essential services like public transport.

It is pivotal for professionals in the built environment to prioritize the promotion and protection of the rights of people with disabilities particularly in urban design. With the hope that a potential exists for the improvement of buildings and thus facility access for people with disabilities in Lesotho, rise embarked on a project that would shed light on the existing issue of “lack of inclusivity in the urban design of Lesotho”. According to a study by the Lesotho National Federation of Organizations of the Disabled (LNFOD), people with disabilities are constantly faced with the challenge of not having equal access to facilities like banks and hotels and to services like public transportation as the built environment does not cater for wheelchair access and other limited mobility needs. 

The aims of this project were to facilitate an interface which promotes that everyone gains equal access to services and facilities; to educate the general community on the need for inclusivity in urban design; to increase awareness within the built environment sector on the need for inclusivity in design and construction and to engage policy makers in the discussion on inclusivity in the urban planning of Lesotho. Empathy is key here, the feeling of belonging rather than feeling excluded. Inclusivity of design is achievable. The goal of inclusive design is to offer the same access for all users, whether with special needs, disabilities or neither of these.

……Empathy is key here

 

 

What rise has achieved on universal design so far…  

 

A panel discussion with policy makers 

Made possible by the British High Commission

rise hosted a photo exhibit and panel discussion on inclusive design where policy makers engaged in a discussion around the need for reforms on Building Codes for inclusive design in both private and public sectors. A voting poll was set up for the general public to vote on the matters that mean the most to them regarding the infrastructure and accessibility of Maseru city. 

Key stakeholders working in the built environment made pledges on how they are going to commit to improving the existing situation of lack of inclusivity in the urban planning of Lesotho. WATCH VIDEO OF PANEL DISCUSSION

A webinar to create awareness on Inclusive design in Lesotho & internationally

WATCH VIDEO OF WEBINAR

After the panel discussion rise hosted a webinar on Inclusive design in Lesotho and internationally where professionals engaged, educated and spoke on the need for universal design globally and locally.

Radio shows to create awareness on the need for universal design

 

rise hosted 4 radio shows in partnership with SkyAlpha, aimed at increasing awareness of the need for inclusivity in the urban planning of Lesotho.

An inclusive building for people living with disabilities

 

Through in loco – rise built an all inclusive design building for the Lesotho National Federation of Organizations of the Disabled, allowing them to finally employ people with physical disabilities.

 

A panel discussion with key stakeholders for action planning

 

Universal Design for Maseru City Roundtable was hosted on March 2nd 2022 by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftainship, facilitated by rise and funded by the British High Commission in Lesotho with a focal thematic area around Universal Design including :

1. Regulatory & Legislative Building Codes for Inclusive Design 

2. Design & Planning Practices 

3. Action planning and Next Steps needed 

Our work on Universal Design does not end here, watch out for more on our social media platforms, engage with us on this topic and lend your hand wherever you can because if you want to go fast you go alone. But if you want to go far you go together. Let’s go together!

SUBSCRIBE to become a regular rise donor

 

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