This year we have placed 3 participants in Lesotho on the Welsh Government’s ILO programme. Kate was with our partners, Heal Our Land Organisation in Matsieng. Laura was with the Lesotho Council of NGO’s in Maseru and Annette, a Pallative Care consultant was place with the NGO Starlight of Hope Hospice.
Hear what they had to say about their time in Lesotho:
“It is impossible to express in a few sentences how inspiring and impactful my ILO Wales and Africa placement with Heal Our Land Organisation (HOLO) has been and will continue to be in influencing my thinking and actions in future.
Back home in Wales my work is focused on promoting equality of outcomes, human and children’s rights to help improve policy development and delivery at a national level. The work of HOLO has taken my understanding of what that looks like in practice at ground level to a whole new high.
HOLO is literally saving lives in the community of Matsieng and Lesotho more widely.
In my day job I promote awareness and understanding of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and Wales adoption of the UNCRC into law through the Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011. I advise colleagues on what applying the articles in the Convention looks like in practice.
The ILO Wales and Africa programme is a great example of how Welsh Government are applying Article 24 of the UNCRC, which states:
“Children have the right to good quality health care and to clean water, nutritious food and a clean environment so that they will stay healthy. Rich countries should help poorer countries achieve this.”
Having only ever lived and worked in the UK, a High Income Status country, my knowledge of the challenges and benefits of working in any country of Middle or Low Income Status was very limited and based solely on what I had read about, watched or listened to in the media. That is why the ILO Programme is so invaluable. Coming here to Lesotho has opened my eyes to the real operations of a (lower) Middle Income Status Country. Sharing learning and understanding on a practical level, I now have a far more meaningful understanding of the barriers faced and how the Basotho people address those.
I have seen first hand what article 24 looks like in practice through this scheme. I see how HOLO is delivering article 24 on the ground. I feel immensely proud and privileged to have been given this opportunity to be a very small part of that. My experience here goes way beyond words.
Whilst my physical ILO Wales and Africa Placement is coming to a close, my ongoing relationship with HOLO and Lesotho is just at the beginning.” Kate Murray
“The opportunity to visit Lesotho as part of the ILO program has been amazing but I also think very useful for all. I have been working with Starlight Oasis of Hope Hospice – a palliative care charity registered in both UK and Lesotho. The work they have been doing in Lesotho in the past few years has been predominantly education across a range of professional groups and also advocacy, liaising with the government in relation to palliative care and the availability of pain relief medications. They are now keen to develop a model of palliative care delivery on the ground in Lesotho. I am a consultant in Palliative Medicine in Wales and have been instrumental in developing a service in Pembrokeshire. My time in Lesotho has highlighted some of the exceptional good work and dedicated professionals working, keen to develop their service further and ensure the best possible care for their patients. It has also shown some of the challenges in place currently. I am very grateful for how open and welcoming everyone has been, keen to discuss the issues and jointly look at different ways of approaching these.
I am in the process of writing a report which will help guide the next steps for Starlight and will also be shared with the government.
I would like the thank the Welsh government for this amazing opportunity. Lesotho is a beautiful country. I have learnt so much about different ways of working that I will share back in Wales. I also fully intend to stay involved with Starlight, continuing to work with them, and return in the future, helping to ensure the best possible care for people with life limiting illnesses in Lesotho”. Annette Edwards
Incredibly welcoming
Lifelong connections
Outstanding natural beauty
Having never travelled further than Europe before, I was hesitant about what to expect when I agreed to participate in the ILO programme offered by Welsh Government in partnership with Hub Cymru Africa. Arriving in Lesotho, any apprehension I may have had was soon alleviated, Basotho people are incredibly welcoming and happy to help you. I have been fortunate to embrace the rich cultural history and heritage of Basotho people by visiting Thaba Bosiu, exploring the outstanding natural beauty in Tsehlanyane National Park, and even, enjoying a Maluti with locals on a donkey pub crawl. As part of the ILO programme, I was placed with the Lesotho Council of NGOs (LCN) which is an umbrella organisation supporting over 300 NGOs across the country. Throughout my eight weeks, I worked across the six sectoral commissions, supporting co-ordinators on issues involving women and children, democracy and human rights, education and health, as well as agriculture and environment. Drawing upon my skillset, I assisted colleagues with research and analysis, drafting policy and legal documents, as well as, providing an independent objective perspective. Some placement highlights include drafting a proposal to UN Women Trust Fund for a 4 year project to end violence against women and girls across the country; budget analysis; revising and making recommendations to draft legislation on non-formal education; and implementing HR practices and good governance across the organisation.
To anyone thinking of applying, I would strongly encourage you to, it has been one of the most fulfilling and enjoyable experiences of my life. Lesotho, and LCN most definitely have a special place in my heart. I will be back.
Laura Harris
