Climate change and environmental degradation are some of the most pressing issues of our time in Lesotho, and by educating ourselves and others on the importance of reducing our carbon footprint, conserving natural resources, and protecting our ecosystems, we can work together to create a healthier, more liveable planet for ourselves and future generations.
According to UNITAR, Lesotho generates 137510 tonnes of waste/year of which an average of 20% fall within collection system, whereas 80% is unaccounted for, either illegally dumped or ends up in open burning practices.
In Morija, due to the lack of any waste management system, open burning of litter is done by individuals, businesses and institutions. Some of this is done daily adjacent to homes, busy walking paths and sports grounds where youth gather and play sports, while breathing in smoke from burning plastic and chemicals.
In August, Skills & Soup participants MotΕ‘elisi Mohapeloa and PontΕ‘o Mothabeng expressed their concern for the amount of plastic pollution in Morija, and their initiative enabled The Hub to source the funds to join the global effort this year!
World Cleanup Day 2024
170 young people participated in a week of educational activities for World Cleanup Day at The Hub from September 16 – 21, 2024 with the theme Make Room for Life: Don’t Trash Your Future!
Our week started with the youngest Skills & Soup participants enjoying educational film screenings, with The Hubβs team teaching our future leaders about climate change, plastic pollution, and the importance of community action!
Make Room for Life: Don’t Trash Your Future!
Our World Cleanup Day event started off in a blistering cold rain that transformed into stunning snow-capped mountains. Despite the cold, enthusiastic young Skills & Soup participants were at The Hub more than an hour before start time!
The cleanup route focused on pollution in and around bodies of water. Led by the Rotary Club of Maseru, we learned about the hazards of pollution resulting from the dumping of litter, especially near water sources.
Participants also learned about which types of litter to collect, and unfortunately, some that we could not due to being biohazardous such as disposable diapers. Improper disposal of diapers is a growing global health concern due to the accumulation of fecal pathogens and non-biodegradable materials, posing risks to drinking water safety and causing chemical and physical harm to human, animal, and environmental health.
Back at The Hub, the Rotary Club of Maseru recapped what we had learned, followed by Pheha Plastic leading a session on the importance of separating the litter we collected. All collected PP and HDPE plastic will be recycled by Pheha Plastic in Morija. Glass and PET plastic will be delivered to a depot in Mazenod for recycling. Not only does this reduce the amount of litter in the community, but teaches young people about reducing the amount of litter to dispose of, despite our lack of waste management in Morija.
Cafe Mojo prepared traditional Basotho cuisine during the week, serving nyekoe, moroho, butternut, chakalaka, khemere, motoho, and liphaphatha! By embracing local, sustainable food, weβre nourishing our bodies while caring for the planet.
Massive thanks to Pheha Plastic and the Rotary Club of Maseru for leading educational sessions!
Educating young people in Lesotho about the environment is crucial for fostering a sustainable future. By equipping the youth with knowledge about conservation, climate change, and sustainable practices, they become empowered to take proactive roles in protecting their natural surroundings. Instilling environmental awareness ensures that young people understand the balance between utilising and preserving resources, enabling them to innovate solutions that mitigate environmental degradation, support biodiversity, and enhance community resilience against climate-related challenges. In turn, this paves the way for a more sustainable future, where both the environment and the communities that rely on it can thrive in harmony.
A huge thank you to our incredible sponsors for making this year’s World Cleanup Day a success!
- Pick ‘n Pay Lesotho who donated peanut butter and oranges for our breakfast before the cleanup, and trash bags for collecting waste!
- TWGI Pty – Ltd for a special rate on the printing of our colourful t-shirts, hats and tote bags!
- Build it Maseru and Cashbuild Maseru for generous discounts on gloves that we can keep reusing at our next cleanup events!
- Glasswaters Foundation for supporting World Cleanup Day and Skills & Soup!
The Hub 