NXT Podcast Bootcamp

From December 5-9, 2022 Maleshoane Mohanoe represented The Hub at a NXT Podcast Bootcamp in Windhoek, Namibia. The bootcamp was organised by the Namibia Media Trust, with support from DW Akademie.

The NXT Podcast Bootcamp focused on user-centred format development, journalistic information and content production, podcast production process as well as distribution and discovery, including:

  • in-depth podcast training with two leading podcasting experts
  • innovative approaches to experiment with new podcast formats and audience development
  • one-on-one coaching in the podcast production phase and access to mentors
  • bringing together participating podcasters from Namibia, Zambia, Lesotho, Botswana, Malawi & Zimbabwe for an interactive and future-oriented exchange

Why Podcast?

Podcasts are growing in popularity on the African continent, especially amongst young audiences who increasingly seek individualised content to consume whenever and wherever it suits them. Podcasts encourage formats that allow deeper focus on content as well as stronger engagement. Podcasts can meet the increased demand for reliable and in-depth information. This is why the Namibia Media Trust is supporting media houses, civil society and independent content creators to develop, produce and distribute new on-demand audio formats. The NXT Podcast Bootcamp enabled teams to develop their skills and capacity to innovate and position themselves as a pioneer in the emerging African podcasting landscape.

Thanks to the Namibia Media Trust for inviting The Hub, look out for our podcasts coming soon!

Hour of Code 2022

After a break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, The Hub was able to host Hour of Code again from December 5-9, 2022! Our Skills & Soup participants had fun coding dance parties and more!

The Hour of Code is organized by Code.org, and is a global movement in 180+ countries, with 61,437 events registered in 2022. Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify “code”, to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science.

Since 2016, The Hub has taken part in the annual event, but it doesn’t stop there! Led by Thejane Malakane, participants at Skills & Soup and at our outreach sessions in digitally excluded communities regularly learn coding by playing Scratch.

Learning to code doesn’t just set students up for career opportunities later on in life; it also provides a host of soft skills and benefits.

– Reasons Why Kids Should Learn to Code

7 Reasons why kids should learn to code:

1. Coding boosts problem-solving skills

2. Coding improves computational thinking

3. Coding encourages persistence

4. Coding teaches creativity

5. Coding helps teach digital literacy

6. Coding is a career-building skill

7. Coding improves confidence and communication skills

In addition to our weekly Skills & Soup participants joining Hour of Code, “Sir”, as the participants call him, Thejane Malakane walked for more than an hour (one way) with 16 of his students from Toloane Primary School to partake in Hour of Code at The Hub!

Special thanks to Glasswaters Foundation for their support of Skills & Soup at The Hub! Thanks also to Vodacom Lesotho Foundation for providing The Hub with high-speed internet!

Lesotho Film Festival at The Hub

The Hub hosted Lesotho Film Festival on November 23, 2022. We enjoyed watching local films about Bacha Shutdown, heritage in the Morija region, and more! The afternoon left us inspired to keep creating and telling stories from Lesotho.

Two of The Hub’s films are part of the festival this year:

Ke Batla Ho Bua by The Hub, directed by Liteboho Molato

Re Ipate Kae? by The Hub featuring Queen Mo, directed by Sehlabaka Rampeta

Thanks to Lesotho Film Festival for screening the following films at The Hub:

Two Countries by Motikoe Khiba

Siriti by Tšepiso Mahase

Motlalentoa by Katleho Monyako and Khotso Monyako

Mitsa by Moleboheng Khothatso

Soul Connected by Ayesha Khuele

To find out more dates and locations for free film screenings, follow this link!

Thanks to The Hub Team for making the event a success!

Lesotho Commemorates the Transgender Day of Remembrance

On Friday 18 November 2022, as part of our support of Human Rights in Lesotho, The Hub joined Lesotho’s LGTBQI+ advocacy organisation, The People’s Matrix Association, in a commemoration of the Transgender Day of Remembrance. The day began with a peaceful march through the centre of Maseru, starting at Setsoto Stadium and ending at Victoria Hotel. A procession of LGBTQI+-identifying Basotho and allies walked peacefully together in solidarity through the streets, with the majority of participants dressed in symbolic black attire, interspersed with the bright colours of rainbow and transgender flags.

At Victoria Hotel, the group congregated in a large hall decorated with rainbow flags and banners. An important moment in the day was when all of the lights were dimmed and attendees held lit candles, sang together, and observed a shared moment of silence in remembrance of transgender-identifying people who have suffered from discrimination and violence.

Giselle Ratalane, Project Coordinator at the People’s Matrix Association, spoke of the numerous challenges faced by transgender-identifying Basotho. Ratalane explained that ‘one in three transgender people in Lesotho (36 percent) has been denied access to health care.

’This is in part due to the many hurdles that transgender Basotho face when attempting to apply for legal gender recognition. Although Lesotho’s legal framework does allow for this, Ratalane commented on the fact that ‘outdated terminology, inconsistencies, and a lack of guidelines limit the ability of transgender persons to successfully apply for legal gender recognition on their identity documents.’

– Giselle Ratalane

‘It was wonderful to have so many people here today,’ said Ratalane, ‘and to have so many transgender people coming out for the day visibly, publicly, and also proudly. It’s not easy in Lesotho today to be somebody who is visibly cross-dressing or expressing yourself differently from what is expected. We still get a backlash in what continues to be a very patriarchal society. This leads to many instances of violence, discrimination, and harassment. But even with these challenges, so many transgender people are choosing to publicly appear at events like today’s, which is really important.’

Founded in 2008, the People’s Matrix Association has been at the forefront of pressing for equal rights for LGBTQI+-identifying Basotho. Commenting on the organisation’s future advocacy plans for transgender rights, Ratalane spoke of immediate plans following the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

‘We are working with strategic stakeholders in both the NGO space and the government to discuss legal gender recognition. We’re hoping to work together with the government to modify laws and adopt a bill for the protection of transgender people. This will help transgender people in Lesotho to get their gender markers changed without any of the hurdles that they currently face today.’ 

Photos from the day

Hearing screenings by Kutlong Centre For Hearing

On November 11, 2002, The Hub hosted Kutlong Centre For Hearing for free hearing screenings for parents and guardians of Skills & Soup participants, and members of the community.

We were overwhelmed by the number of people who came to look for the services, making it clear that they are needed services!

58 people received hearing screenings by Kutlong Centre For Hearing at The Hub

Some of the participants requested to include eye tests as well. The Hub held a blood donation drive in 2020, and we are now looking into making an annual event for free health services. Contact us if you would like to be involved!

Special thanks to Kutlong Centre For Hearing!