entrepreneurship – rise International

Building Sustainably: rise Empowers Local Masons with ICEB Training

March 12, 2025By Chris Theko0 comment

As part of the ongoing “Build Smart, Build Local” initiative, rise International recently hosted a capacity-building workshop at Durahm Link, Maseru, aimed at equipping local masons with sustainable construction methodologies. The workshop provided hands-on training in various brick production techniques, including conventional concrete, fire burning, and extracted rock approaches. However, the primary focus was on Interlocking Compressed Earth Blocks (ICEB), an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and durable construction innovation gaining traction in the industry.

Enhancing Business Acumen in Construction

Opening the workshop, Business Trainer ‘Maneo Seekane engaged attendees in an interactive discussion on the fundamental principles of running a construction business. She emphasized key areas such as cost and price determination, necessary equipment, and production capabilities that businesses can benchmark. This session encouraged knowledge-sharing, with masons exchanging insights on their current practices, challenges, and innovative solutions.

Proprietor Kefuoe Lefera described the workshop as invaluable, stating, “These sessions are essential for sharing experiences among local entrepreneurs, building confidence in business, and fostering networking opportunities.” She highlighted ICEB’s affordability, noting that “one does not need significant capital to start production.”

Technical Insights into ICEB Production

Rise’s Construction and Projects Manager, Thato Nkikana, led the theoretical component of the workshop, detailing the composition and production of ICEBs. She stressed the importance of selecting the right materials—particularly ensuring a proper ratio of rough sand, subsoil, and mineral content. “We need at least 50% sand and 30% to 40% clay to achieve the ideal composition,” Nkikana explained, adding that sand testing can be conducted using simple household tools.

For ‘Masefabatho Sula, a representative from the Ministry of Gender Equality, Youth, and Social Development, this was her second time attending a rise ICEB workshop. She noted its instrumental role in introducing different brick-making methods. “This machinery is evidently more user-friendly and cost-effective. These workshops are crucial for knowledge-sharing and business growth,” she remarked.

Hands-On Demonstration and Practical Training

The workshop transitioned into a live demonstration led by rise International’s Construction Supervisor, Ramarou Tsoho, and Construction Coordinator, Tumelo Sethunsa. Both experts guided participants through the mixing process and operational techniques of ICEB machinery. Tsoho demonstrated how to produce full and half blocks, emphasizing the importance of adhering to a guidebook for beginners while allowing for micro-adjustments as experience grows. “Following the correct process ensures consistency and quality in production,” he advised.

Attendees were given the opportunity to operate the machinery, providing them with firsthand experience. Local businessman Makhetha Khoabane acknowledged the significance of ICEB technology in expanding his brick-making business. Similarly, Phoofolo Khoabane expressed enthusiasm about acquiring ICEB machinery, citing its lower production costs compared to conventional methods. “Owning this equipment would allow me to scale my enterprise efficiently,” he stated.

Rise International’s Commitment to Sustainable Development

Rise International continues to champion sustainable development through its various projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Notable initiatives include the Stadium of Life and the 5 Hub Schools project, both of which incorporate eco-friendly materials such as timber, sandbags, and ICEBs. One of the organization’s significant achievements is the construction of the Motimposo Primary School Kitchen Pavilion using ICEBs—a fully operational facility that has greatly improved meal preparation for students.

Through initiatives like the ICEB workshop, rise International remains dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship, promoting innovative building technologies, and empowering local communities in Lesotho. As the adoption of sustainable construction practices grows, such training programs are essential in driving economic and social development across the region.

News

January 2025 Highlights

February 13, 2025By Chris Theko0 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

News

Closing off an impactful year!

December 19, 2024By Chris Theko0 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.

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.

Case Studies

African Clean Energy – Addressing limited access to clean cooking energy solutions in Africa.

December 9, 2024By Chris Theko0 comment

DATE 04/12/2024

BY MINAH LEKAU- Monitoring Evaluation & Research Coordinator

BACKGROUND:

African Clean Energy (ACE) is an international social enterprise dedicated to providing off-grid communities in developing countries with access to clean and affordable energy cooking solutions. Through the manufacturing and distribution of the ACE 1 hybrid energy system, ACE offers users a cost-effective product that provides both clean thermal energy for cooking and essential electricity for device charging and lighting.

THE PROBLEM:

The project set out to address limited access to clean cooking energy solutions in remote and underserved communities where geographic isolation and infrastructure make it difficult for communities to obtain while also eradicating poverty levels due to limited job opportunities by providing local employment opportunities that empower communities economically and socially

THE SOLUTION

ACE commissioned rise to design and install 4 self-sufficient mobile shops in Nazareth, Motsekuoa, Mapoteng, and Mphaki. Each mobile unit has a full photovoltaic (PV) solar system, batteries, fridges, printers, and other essential tools, enabling them to function independently. These mobile shops brought efficient, smoke-free cooking technologies directly to off-grid households, expanding access to life-changing solutions designed for these communities, improving health, reducing fuel usage, and fostering environmental sustainability.

THE METHODOLOGY

With support from EU funds, the rise team, in collaboration with our 2018 and 2019 Pioneers (Pioneers are graduates from rise‘s 10-month Design, Build, and Entrepreneurship in loco Fellowship program. Upon completing the fellowship, these graduates enter a three-year business incubation program, which offers business coaching, mentorship, access to power tools and machinery, workspace, networking opportunities, and project referrals) designed and constructed four mobile shops.

THE IMPACT:

Since the handover of these mobile energy hubs in 2019 to date several key accomplishments have been realized:

Strong Relationships with Village Leaders:
ACE has successfully established a strong rapport with local village leaders, significantly improving their Know Your Customer (KYC) process. These relationships have facilitated smoother operations and increased trust in ACE’s products and services.
Enhanced Marketing and Customer Base Expansion:
The mobile energy hubs have served as effective marketing tools, helping ACE increase its customer base. By offering more direct access to remote rural areas, ACE has been able to onboard new customers, further expanding its reach and impact.
Improved Service Delivery:
The hubs have played a crucial role in maintaining a consistent and reliable fuel distribution network for ACE’s hybrid energy systems. Additionally, the mobile energy hubs have enabled ACE to respond to customer maintenance requests more efficiently and quickly.

After-Sales Support:
These hubs, among the oldest in ACE’s network, have proven invaluable for providing after-sales support. They serve as a critical point of contact for a large portion of ACE’s customer base, offering essential repair services and guidance on the use of renewable energy technologies.
Educational Opportunities:
The hubs have created spaces where locals can educate themselves about renewable energy solutions and the benefits of transitioning to more sustainable energy sources. This shift in mindset is crucial for promoting the long-term adoption of clean energy technologies.
Local Employment and Women Empowerment:
Since the completion of the mobile shops, ACE has consistently hired three field agents and a watchman for each hub at any given time, specifically from the local area.

TESTIMONIALS

Rethabile Mafura- Director of ACE

“This initiative has successfully expanded ACE’s reach into rural, underserved communities, improving service delivery and creating economic opportunities, particularly for women. By providing energy access and education, ACE is dedicated to scaling its impact and driving social and environmental change in these regions.”

rise News

Everyday is World Youth Skills day at rise

July 15, 2022By Chris Theko0 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

Case Studies

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

June 29, 2022By Chris Theko0 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.”

rise News

rise’s work on Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)

June 14, 2022By Chris Theko0 comment

rise‘s work on Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)

“Growing up in a clean and safe environment is every child’s right. Access to clean water, basic toilets, and good hygiene practices not only keeps children thriving, but also gives them a healthier start in life.” – Unicef

Lack of sanitation can be a barrier to individual prosperity and sustainable development. When children, especially girls, cannot access private and decent sanitation facilities in their schools and learning environments, the right to education is threatened. Poor sanitation puts children at risk of childhood diseases and malnutrition that can impact their overall development, learning and, later in life, economic opportunities. According to UNICEF, as of 2015, nearly one in ten children in Lesotho dies before reaching their fifth birthday. Too many of these deaths are due to the effects of unclean water and inadequate sanitation and hygiene, which increases a child’s vulnerability to disease and infection. Most of Lesotho’s ten districts report a high percentage of households using unprotected water sources, and about 20% still need access to improved sanitation facilities. That is why we have partnered with various organizations and entities to address this urgent challenge.

What rise has achieved so far…

Toilets for a Primary School in Lithabaneng village

– Watch video of the launch

Ever since the existence of Seboka Primary School, over 600 learners yearly have endured poor sanitation due to a lack of healthy sanitation facilities and no running water anywhere on the school site. We are so proud of our in loco pioneers xyz collaborative for building new toilets for the learners and staff and Mokhethea Civils and Contactors for constructing the percolation system, as part of our 5 Hub Schools project thanks to the support of a not for profit organization called Action Ireland Trust (AIT) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training of Lesotho.

Boreholes and rainwater harvesting for 5 Hub schools

Our in loco Pioneers PRO Construction successfully constructed rainwater harvesting systems in 2 schools with the help of sponsorship from the British High Commission in Lesotho and AIT. The boreholes, together with the rainwater harvesting systems now provide a regular flow of clean running water to the schools, facilitating general good hygiene and frequent handwashing amongst learners and the schools’ community – an essential healthy habit in these Covid-19 ridden times. This access to running water also makes food preparation in the schools much easier, provides much needed water in the food gardens constructed by Green Yards, another in loco Pioneer company while promoting food security and food hygiene, and further supplies constant water circulation in the newly built toilets.

Why food gardens? You may ask. School lunch is the only meal that many of the learners in these schools get each day and therefore being able to grow their own nutritious food is vital for the learners’ feeding program and overall health & nutrition hence the construction of these food gardens. The schools are also able to sell excess produce to raise funds towards their operational costs.

No more outdoor cooking for another school in Lithabaneng village

The food preparation of over 600 learners was done in the outdoor area of Leqele Primary School. It is so amazing to have our in loco Pioneers Presto Construction Company build a new kitchen for this school also with clean water supply. It is integral that food be prepared, handled and served where there is access to running water.

Hand Wash stations for towns, hospitals, schools and villages in Lesotho during 1st wave of Covid-19

Watch more on this project

To curb the spread of the Coronavirus, we built handwash stations in all 5 schools in the Lithabaneng area which promoted hygiene and the safe handling of food. On the same mission, xyz collaborative built 105 more hand wash stations which were installed in all 10 districts of Lesotho in various health clinics, hospitals, child care facilities as well as busy town areas in partnership with UNDP, UNICEF and the Ministry of Health.. We built 10 more for a semi-rural community called Motimposo to lessen the number of communities that did not have access to running water and were thus at the highest risk of contracting the virus.

Safely managed water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services are an essential part of preventing and protecting human health especially during infectious disease outbreaks, including the current Covid-19 pandemic. Our mission is to ensure that young people exist in environments that allow them to develop so they can one day join the fight against poverty in Lesotho and the Subsaharan African region at large.

We call on you to help make a difference with us!

SUBSCRIBE to become a rise donor

in loco program

Do your best and the rest will follow

February 22, 2021By RISE INT3 Comments

My name is ‘Mathebe Rampielo, AKA “Pepper”, “Thibi turner” or “Pepper at de ground”. I am a young charismatic and kind hearted Mosotho girl at the age of 24. I am a graduate from Lerotholi Polytechnic tertiary institution and I have an academic qualification in Carpentry and Joinery. I am currently a fellow in rise international’s in loco program. I learnt of this program on social media, but was lucky enough to learn more about rise as an organization through its collaboration with Kick4Life in developing the infrastructure of Kick4Life’s Campus, as I am a member of Kick4Life’s female football club.

I am a very hands-on, “do it yourself”, “if you can do it, I can do it better” kind of girl. This is why I am known for my bold choices, one prominent one being to study a very male dominated practice; carpentry and joinery, and also being a football player. Pursuing such male dominated fields, I believe I am a boundary breaker. On the contrary, I am daddy’s little girl and I think I had a lot of positive influence from my father. He is an excellent and very experienced carpenter, a construction worker and fanatic when it comes to football. I bet that by now you can attest to the fact that I am my father’s daughter right? So, I applied for the in loco fellowship 2020 because I wanted to improve my portfolio as a professional carpenter because I knew I would acquire business training skills and that would therefore broaden my mindset as an entrepreneur.

I am an entrepreneur at heart; I tried out so many business ventures from when I was a kid, something rare for a young girl living in Lesotho. However, I lacked a lot of business and entrepreneurial skills, from planning to budgeting, documenting, market research, all the way to efficient customer service. It is so exciting that I have gained all these skills since I joined the fellowship. My approach to my business really improved due to the intense training I receive from the fellowship.

One of my favorite things about being in the fellowship is that I am an active participant in the designing, managing of a project and the actual construction of a building. We are building the head quarter offices of the Lesotho National Federation of Organizations for the Disabled (LNFOD) in Naledi, Maseru. The building is due for completion at the end of March 2021. For the duration of this project I have taken the roles of being a plant and logistics manager, health and safety officer and finally a site manager which were all satisfying and challenging in their own different ways.

But my key takeaways from this project, which I did not know or have before, are the art of accurate bricklaying, plastering and compiling the Bill of Quantities. In addition to this I have learned the standards of building and standard names of construction techniques and practices that were never in my vocabulary. In a nutshell, being part of both the design and the practical part of construction has solidified the construction theory that I learnt in varsity. My aspiration is to have my own construction company that hires mostly females. My main aim is to empower women in the construction industry. And my experience with rise international has helped me get exposure and experience diversity in the working environment; working in different professions, allowing a peer-to-peer learning experience that one can only get in a fellowship. My motto is “do not hold back, be your best and the rest will follow”, and I live by it every day of my life.

in loco program

Learning to love the process

February 16, 2021By RISE INT2 Comments

I remember my eleven-year-old self coming across a drawing which I later learned was a floor plan. I began to wonder how a simple drawing like the one I had seen became a house. I was quiet curious and really loved to read a lot as a child. I then learned that for every structure to be constructed it had to be drawn first. However, a bigger question remained; how is construction carried out? I guess that’s why I ended up pursuing a Diploma in Civil Engineering.

I am Ikhetheleng Moshoeshoe, a 24-year old woman born and raised in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. I am a fellow with rise international’s in loco fellowship 2020 cohort. I have big hopes to make real changes in my community and the economy through entrepreneurship. As a fresh graduate from school with little on site experience, this fellowship seemed like a great opportunity to enhance my skills and to become more employable. So when I joined the rise family, I was looking to gain practical experience, not knowing there would be so much more to gain.

This fellowship has provided me with valuable skills which I can use to start my own enterprise in future. It also supports the fellows through resource and professional networking which is great for building a business entity. I read somewhere that in a man’s world, a woman has to use both her brains and beauty. The past 6 months that I have spent here has taught me to change the narrative to “use her brains and gets her hands dirty”. Through labor intensive work and working with different people from numerous disciplines of the construction industry, I have learned and still continue to learn the key activities involved in construction. Some of these include project preparation, bricklaying, carpentry, roofing, electrical and plumbing works. I also got to experience the challenges involved in construction first hand which according to me is one of the best ways to ever master anything.

Ikhetheleng constructing a roof truss structure

During the design stage of the project, I was part of the research team. This was where we went out to do research on different types of material and their availability while building a relationship with the suppliers. As a shy person, this task helped me work on my communication skills and it was a definite boost to my confidence. I have also been involved in purchasing materials playing the role of a buyer. This was a very challenging role since I also had to negotiate prices from our suppliers to ensure that we stick to the budget as per the Bill of Quantities. Since we work as a group, this fellowship has been a platform where I get to show my teamwork skills while also learning from other fellows.

Even though more women are progressively and proudly making their mark, the built environment is still a male dominated industry. My dream is to change that and through the entrepreneurship training that I get from rise, I am at a very big advantage. These sessions have changed my mindset from working towards being more employable to wanting to be an employer. I am confident that I have acquired enough tools to help me start my business. In addition, the in loco fellowship provides a mentorship program which propels me into professional networks and spaces, by learning from and interacting with my esteemed mentor.

One of the most inspiring aspects of rise as an organization is giving back to the community. We are currently constructing offices for LNFOD; the first of its kind in the country. This building will be user friendly to all people living with disability. With a cavity wall to ensure improved thermal efficiency throughout the building so as to reduce heating and air conditioning costs and a beautiful screen wall. Our main aim is to reduce costs and challenge construction methods while abiding by the SABS housing and environmental standards and not compromising lives and the durability of the building. This really requires an open mind. We also get to work with amazing architects from in and out of Lesotho. I am very grateful for this opportunity and excited to learn more in the remaining month.

in loco program

Experience taught me well

January 14, 2021By RISE INT0 comment

I am Mpokho Kherehloa, a proud member of the in loco fellowship cohort of 2020 with rise international. I am a 24 year old Mosotho woman and my life is based on challenging the status quo in the Lesotho construction industry. I hold a diploma in Construction Management from Lerotholi Polytechnic. Not only do I have managerial skills in construction but I can also get my hands dirty in the field. I love doing labor intensive work and I always considered myself the definition of what we call “the complete package”. I can easily manoeuvre in the construction industry as an employable candidate. However, I was missing an integral aspect which I personally never thought was as important as my technical skills and this was having an entrepreneurial mindset.

In the five months that I have been part of this fellowship, I have learned that rise international’s dominant mission is to equip its fellows with the skills and lessons that help newly graduates to develop their attitude towards being self-sustaining and being job creators as opposed to job seekers. As a woman in construction, one can be tamed into thinking their career is good enough by being employed as opposed to being the employer, as the Lesotho construction industry is male dominated. I also wanted to change the normality of having more men in construction than women.

I knew about this fellowship through a Whatsapp group, which talked about construction so it obviously grabbed my immediate attention. So I applied just because I qualified for it, little did I know that there was more to the program than just construction work, there is intense business training. I am five months into the program with about 2 months left to completion. These five months felt like a whole 2 years, not because it was that difficult, but because of the knowledge and site experience I have gained. This experience has been everything and more than I could have ever imagined.

I mentioned that I am a woman who knows her business and am not shy to get my hands dirty. I already knew most things that had to do with construction besides bricklaying and therefore my take away in construction skills so far is bricklaying. As for the entrepreneurship aspect there is a whole lot that I have learned, that has opened my eyes, and directed my way of thinking to be organized and be an executer. These lessons include good communication skills, taking calculated risks without doubting yourself, marketing strategies, customer care and how to prepare a business plan from start to end. And I have no doubt that with these skills acquired I will definitely be the complete package that I aspire to be.

Apart from being inspired to be a job creator, I have a dream to contribute to my community by founding an orphanage. The reason is that I believe in giving everyone a chance to find their purpose, and having a warm bed to sleep in, food to eat and education meets the individual half way in helping them find their true purpose. Also it breaks my heart whenever I see homeless and abused children. So I believe my true purpose in this life is to give hope and support to those in great need of it.