By Neo Kolane
Losing his son inspired organisational development consultant Harry Ntṧekhe to start an initiative called Letlotlo Boy Child Programme Boot Camp with the help of his six friends.
It started operating in 2018 and registered in 2020 and the organisation solidly aims to train teenage boys into responsible citizens in their daily routines.
At the boot camp the boys make their beds, clean their rooms, help in the kitchen, do physical activities while also learning a lot about Basotho culture, their developmental stages, entrepreneurship.
Ntṧekhe lost his son Letlotlo who had two conditions of Cerebral Palsy and Microcephaly. Poor Letlotlo was bound to a wheel chair.
Letlotlo passed on at the age of 12 hence the initiative targeting boys aged 12 to 19 but has lowered the age to 10 since parents twisted Ntṧekhe’s arm regarding the age.
In an interview with theReporter this week, Ntṧekhe said another motivation behind the programme is that he grew up as a camper and natured into being a mentor and a coach.
He added that the programme assists in mentorship and training of teenage boys into becoming good citizens who are patriotic.
The former taekwondo student saw children who were in Letlotlo’s age group being brought up differently in their families; some being spoilt and he became eager to make a change.
He explained that there are three activities in a year at Letlotlo Boy Child Programme Boot Camp.
“Every October there is what is called Endurance Hike which is an educational 21km hike which starts from Sefikeng Sa Moshoeshoe to Thaba-Bosiu via Sehlabeng,
“We teach the boys about the cultural village and everything historical about the places,” he briefly added.
He said in December there is what is called Game Changers Boot Camp where the role models are invited and the teenagers learn from them “because it has been scientifically proven that children learn by emulating others.”
He continued: “The role models talk about self-consciousness, entrepreneurship, culture and agriculture. This year we are bringing people who will teach Swahili and first aid.”
During the Easter break, Letlotlo Boot Camp Programme holds a leadership walk from Morija to Matsieng where the boys are taught about modern day culture and the camp is held at Makeneng in Matsieng.
He said there is a one on one session at the beginning of every event.
“What stands out about this boot camp is that it involves only teenage boys. My co-founders and I gain gratification; we get fulfilment that we have taught them.
“There has been consistency regarding the activities planned we have seen a tremendous growth as we initially had 12 kids in 2018, 15 kids in 2019 and for this year we are expecting more.
“Parents are very happy, because now their teenage boy children are able to make their beds and wash dishes without being asked to do so,” he said.
Harry Ntṧekhe can be contacted on +266-6200 9280.
