The Hub is reaching out to friends and supporters worldwide with an urgent appeal: help us to give the gift of education by providing high school fees and support in 2025 for 30 of our Skills & Soup participants.
Every donation, no matter the size, will contribute to breaking down barriers and opening doors for these bright and ambitious students!
From our Skills & Soup cohort, we have identified 30 young people whose families cannot afford to send them to high school. We have successfully supported this cohort through 2024, and we need your help to keep this scholarship scheme going through 2025!
In Morija, attending high school costs approximately LSL 2,000 (USD 110) per year, but this is unattainable for many families who are already struggling to make ends meet and to put food on the table. Additional costs include exam fees, uniforms, books, dictionaries, calculators, and even boarding fees for some—costs which many families simply cannot cover.
According to 2021 MICS-EAGLE Lesotho Education Fact Sheets, about 80% of children in Lesotho complete primary education. However, the completion rate declines steeply for lower and upper secondary education, with only 33% completing lower secondary and only 14% completing upper secondary due to these unattainable costs. 61% of children from the wealthiest families complete high school, compared to 4% from poor families.
As The Hub, we are determined to help reverse these statistics by ensuring that the young people we work with have the educational opportunities they deserve to pursue their dreams for a brighter and better future for themselves and their families.
“Throughout this year I have been able to attend classes without the fear of being dismissed at school because of behind schedule school fees. I had a proper school uniform like any other students which promoted my equality and inclusivity with other students without consideration of economic backgrounds. I had access to loan out a book from a library which assisted me in
improving my writing skills, communication skills and improving my vocabulary. Also reading helped me understand the world around me better and learn some lessons of life.”-Fumane Tsipane, age 15
Every donation to this campaign will go directly into a high school fees fund that will be managed by our trusted team to cover the costs of fees, exams, books, uniforms, school supplies such as a calculator, and any other additional costs that may arise for 30 of our Skills & Soup participants. The Hub has been paying high school fees for a number of our participants since 2021, and we already have strong relationships with local high schools, as well as an established system to manage these bursaries for deserving high school students.
Our system takes the responsibility for high school fees out of the hands of families, as we pay fees and associated costs directly to high schools in the community. We also communicate regularly with schools to maintain an understanding of students’ needs and progress. This greatly relieves the pressure on families and allows our high school students to focus on what matters most: their studies.
By supporting this cause, you are investing in the future of these young students and empowering them to reach their full potential.
“I was one of the students awarded at school for best performing student in my grade. I was also elected to take part and represent my school in a local science fair. Being chosen to represent my school gave me motivation to keep working hard. It also boosted my confidence.
Because of this sponsorship, my grandmother can focus on other expenses without having to worry about my school fees and uniforms. I also get to focus on my school work without fear of being expelled from school because the fees are not paid. I am very grateful to The Hub for the sponsorship and I promise that when I get to the next grade I will work harder than this year.”
-Tlotlisang Chefane, age 14
“Thanks to your sponsorship I have been able to pursue these goals with greater confidence and focus. Your support has alleviated some of the financial burden and allowed me to fully immerse myself in my studies and participate in various activities.”
-Motselisi Mohapeloa, age 15
The Hub 