Leemisa Thuseho
SEVENTEEN local sports women have been awarded certificates after completing a Women in Leadership Programme (WLP) run by the African Unions Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5.
They received their certificates at ceremony held at ‘Manthabiseng Convention Centre over the weekend.
The training is aimed at increasing the number of women in sport leadership positions.
The programme started on 18 September 2020 and was expected to end on 31 March 2021. However, it dragged until this year due to financial challenges and Covid-19.
It was sponsored by the Association for International Sports for All (TAFISA) through the AUSC Region 5.
Speaking at the ceremony, the programme coordinator, Moipone Mashale, said 20 women enrolled for the course but only 17 managed to complete it.
“It has been a long journey but we are happy that we have managed to reach this far. We started with 20 participants but only 17 are getting certificates after successfully completing the programme,” Mashale said.
The programme covered various topics including core values of leadership, management competencies, managing finances and people, managing strategically, understanding regional sports movements, managing events and gender mainstreaming.
Mashale urged the Sports Ministry, the Lesotho Sport and Recreation Commission and the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) to support women leaders.
“We are confident that these women are going to bring change in our sport by implementing the skills that they have acquired from the programme. We are therefore making a passionate plea to our mother bodies to support them,” Mashale said.
On behalf of the participants, Liteboho Letlala thanked the sponsors for giving them an opportunity to enhance their leadership skills.
Letlala said they were ready to utilise their acquired skills to improve sport in the country.
“This has been a tough journey but we made it against all odds. We had to push even during the Covid-19 pandemic when there was a lot of uncertainty.
“We are ready to go and transform our respective national federations and communities,” she said.