By Seleoe Nonyane
The Econet Telecom Lesotho’s (ETL) social impact organisation, HigherLife Foundation held a send-off ceremony for three Basotho who will be leaving for the United States of America to further their studies.
The trio – ‘Mapalo Makwaza, Katleho Pule and Moliehi Seipati – will leave on August 8 2023 to three different universities.
Speaking at the farewell ceremony on Tuesday, Econet’s Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Plaatjies, said the foundation is currently focusing on four key pillars, namely education support, leadership and lifelong development, institutions (children’s homes), and additional opportunities for HigherLife Foundation beneficiaries.
The foundation is investing in a thriving Africa where every person finds their vocation and is empowered to develop their communities for economic prosperity.
Plaatjies noted that 1616 Basotho scholars have benefited from the foundation since its inception in 2011 and ETL was proud to have made such a positive impact on many families.
Seven HigherLife scholars are studying in the US including the three scholars, and two will be graduating this year.
“One is currently at Waterford Kamhlaba United World College in eSwatini; and seven are studying at Zimbabwe colleges such as Star Leadership Academy.
“Eighteen fellows have graduated from some of the United States’ most prestigious universities and colleges such as Harvard,” he said.
Highlife Foundation Lesotho remains committed to making a life changing impact in a bid to help overcome challenges associated with poverty and make available opportunities that uplift lives for the better, thereby contributing to the country’s economic growth.
Makwaza will be leaving the country to pursue investigative journalism at the University of Oklahoma while Pule will be furthering her studies at Swarthmore College in Philadelphia with majors in Biological Sciences. Seipati will be joining Luther College in Iowa, United States to major in Economics.
