rise international – rise International

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

in loco fellows blog series 2020 #6: Great things never come from our comfort zone

January 7, 2021By RISE INT0 comment

My name is Ramarou Tsoho, a 30 year old Mosotho man. I was born and raised in the highlands of Lesotho “Raleqheka”. I am privileged to be part of the 2020 cohort of the in loco fellowship at rise international. I hold a Diploma in Civil Engineering from Lerotholi Polytechnic. I have chosen this programme because I believe engineers are among the fortunate since they build their own monuments with public consent, public approval and often public funds, most importantly they bring construction ideas and dreams in to reality.

Relationship Inspiring Social Enterprise (rise) offers a great opportunity for new graduates from the built environment, to have experience through learning by doing in the in loco fellowship programme. Most importantly it raises young Basotho entrepreneurs who then become job creators. This programme gives clear insight into what the work environment is like; we learn time management, prioritizing, we feel real pressure to ensure completion of tasks and gain an array of skills that sharpen us to be field ready. I am a personal believer in the power of being humble and teachable because the world is way bigger than our view of it. There is always room for a new idea, a new step and a new beginning, so it is wise to open yourself up to learning.

I started the fellowship in July 2020, with absolutely no experience in the construction of buildings and in running a business as a whole. However, being assigned to be part of the research team taught me a lot in gathering information on all aspects that are needed in obtaining the success of a project. It was in this team that we were searching and sourcing the materials that the design team wanted the proposed building to have. This helps in finance control and time management because by the time the project commenced, we knew where to get materials needed. I was then assigned to be part of the events and digital media team of our cohort. This is where I learnt extensively that punctuality, reliability and consistency are the keys to life. Know the time and frequency to post on the various social media platforms and maintain it so that people can easily follow you. Remember it is through social media where people get to know you better in all things you do.

At this juncture I am now in the quality control, plant and logistics team where we intelligently control the interlinking of material flow and production process. In addition to that, we are also maintaining standards in manufactured products

For this 2020 cohort, we are constructing the offices for Lesotho National Federation for Disabled (LNFOD). This will be one of the most outstanding buildings I’ve ever known here in Lesotho. It has a cavity wall which is not usually included in the buildings in our country. Cavity walls make it possible for the temperature in rooms to be inversely proportional to the temperature that surrounds the building. This building is also inclusive; it is structured such that it accommodates both disabled and able people to utilize it with ease. For instance there is a ramp made for people who use wheelchairs and electric plugs are installed at lower positions of the building than usual which will allow excess for people on wheelchairs.

Through rise I saw a light at the end of the tunnel; because of the in loco fellowship I will be a job creator one day. Your world can be an entirely different place than the world you lived in just moments ago, once your attitudes towards it changes. I almost gave up on my career but rise rescued me by giving me hope. I am gaining the much needed experience to be field ready, I now believe that I indeed have a bright future ahead of me.