By Neo Kolane
The Basotho Enterprise Development Corporation (BEDCO) held its first meet-and-greet session between mentors and mentees this week in Maseru.
The meet-and-greet session was pertaining to the BEDCO Women Mentorship programme which is anticipated to run for a year.
Mentorship is defined as the guidance provided by a mentor, especially an experienced person in a company or educational institution.
It will provide a linkage platform where experienced women business owners and women in positions of power will be paired with mentees based on skills and/or development needs.
This follows a mentorship engagement session in Maseru on May this year which comprised of women in positions of power across various Lesotho-based organisations where BEDCO announced that there would be a mentorship programme where a pool of potential mentors would pass on their knowledge to the mentees.
Meanwhile, before the meet-and-greet, the executive head of enterprise of BEDCO Lemphane Lesoli addressed the mentors and mentees where he described women and mothers as ‘very powerful human beings’.
Lesoli said due to their powerfulness, women encounter a lot of problems especially in their business adventures.
He further said notwithstanding the fact that some businesses are regarded as a man’s world, the advices and encouragement and support women give in different businesses could lead to success.
He emphasised that BEDCO’s vision is to see all enterprises thrive, exceed and excel beyond where they are, not only those that are existing but the ones that are up and coming and growing.
“Women in mentorship are guided to where they have to be by those closest to them; it does not take one person to be great, but through the guidance provided by other people, specifically the mentors in this case, we are able to achieve a lot more,” Lesoli pointed out.
He told the mentors and mentees that the purpose of the session was to see that in the existing businesses, the mentors are working hard to see that the name and strength of a woman are put in the right place.
“We are hoping that this session will continue to advance women in the strength which they have.
“BEDCO’s expectation is that every month, there will be a mediator to see that the plans set are still underway.
“This time next year, we will have mentees who will have succeeded to mentor others and shine the light of businesses,” he revealed.
One of the mentors Lisema Ramaili who is a business management lecture at Limkokwing University of Creative technology and manager of the Limkokwing Entrepreneurship Acceleration Platform (LEAP) explained that LEAP helps the youth to start businesses and assist with mentorship so that after lectures they are able to assist.
Ramaili is also a part of Ramaili Group of Companies.
