Mohale’s Hoek High School learners are proud owners of an agricultural cooperative called Rise and Shine which has become the pride of the district.

Pascalinah Kabi

THIRTY-TWO orphans and vulnerable children studying at Mohale’s Hoek High School are operating a thriving agricultural cooperative which has become the pride of the district.

The initiative called Rise and Shine Cooperative, was established in 2003 to help raise funds for the students.

Rise and Shine runs poultry, piggery and vegetable projects whose proceeds have played a crucial role in ensuring the children remain in school and hopeful of a bright future.

Moleboheng Manosa (18) is one of the members of Rise and Shine, and says the cooperative has made a huge difference in the lives of the beneficiaries.

“This cooperative is giving students from disadvantaged backgrounds hope for a better future. We no longer have to worry about issues such as school fees, uniform, food and other expenses we might need for our daily upkeep,” said the Form D student.

“Like my fellow beneficiaries of this cooperative, my parents could not raise money for my school needs but thanks to Rise and Shine, I have been able to attend classes like any other normal student. This cooperative has really given us hope.”

According to Manosa, she joined the cooperative this year after realising she might not be able to write her Form E examinations because of her parents’ difficult financial situation.

“I am in Form D and decided to join the cooperative this year after realising how difficult it had become for my parents to raise my school fees. Since I joined 31 other members of this cooperative, I no longer worry about school anymore.

“We have hired a fulltime employee who looks after our projects when we are in class or at home, and this has gone a long way to make sure we have a cooperative that is second to none and very productive.

“However, although we have someone to help us with our cooperative, we are also heavily involved in our projects.

“I feel like we have taken a giant leap towards ending poverty which had become a constant threat to our future. Personally, joining the cooperative has shaped my future and also opened my eyes to a whole new world of self-employment.

“What this means is that poor as we are, we can contribute towards reducing high unemployment which has become such a problem in our country.”

Mohale’s Hoek High School Principal, Ntai Palamang, said the cooperative was initiated to save children from a future of crime and hopelessness.

“We have several orphans and vulnerable children in this school who find it difficult to continue with their education due to lack of funds. The school sourced funding and started these projects for them, and I am happy to say the initiative has been a relative success,” Mr Palamang said.

“The students’ performances have since improved because they no longer worry about their fees, which is what gives us this strength and encouragement to carry on supporting the venture.

“Although the projects are fully run by the students, the school always ensures the learners hire someone who will not only oversee what they do but also guide them in making their cooperative a success.”

However, Mr Palamang pointed out that some employees have stolen from the students in the past, which he said pulled back the projects and put unnecessary mental strain on the beneficiaries.

“We have had some incidents where the hired employees stole from the project and also influenced the students into doing the same thing.

“This negatively affected the produce, and the children’s income.”

The Ministry of Small Business Development, Co-operatives and Marketing, has also since given the learners the  thumbs-up for working extremely hard to eventually register their cooperative in 2012.

“They are the only legally registered youth cooperative in this district and it is rapidly growing into a force to reckon with,” the ministry’s Mohale’s Hoek Cooperatives Manager, ‘Mpinane Qoane, said.

“The students will be able to share their skills with other youths from around the country during a Youth Forum scheduled for 13-18 December at Lesotho Cooperatives College, which will enhance their knowledge about cooperatives.

“It is also pleasing to note that most former members of the cooperative are now into the same projects big-time now, but as independents.

“This is very pleasing because it is in line with the ministry’s call that young people must be self-employed.”