BEREA, Sept. 11 (LENA) — The International Trade Centre (ITC) Ethical Fashion Initiative has encouraged youths in Teyateyaneng to use their creativity and innovative ideas to add value to wool and mohair products in order to grow their businesses and contribute to economic development.
This emerged on Friday during the official launch of the Lesotho Wool and Mohair Roadshow targeting youths in Berea at the Teyateyaneng Thakaneng Youth Resource Centre.
Addressing the youths, representative of the ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative Ms Ts’epang Sekonyela said the project had identified wool and mohair as key value-chain products, but noted that most of the raw materials are exported despite the existence of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) operating in the sector.
She said the ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative, in partnership with the Wool and Mohair Value Chain Competitiveness Project (WAMCOP), under the cottage industry and business development component, saw a need to equip MSMEs, including art designers and artisans, with skills to transform wool and mohair into economically viable products for regional and international markets.
Ms Sekonyela said although some people had been involved in the wool and mohair sector for many years, the project targets everyone, including skilled and semi-skilled individuals.
She said the initiative seeks to build their capacity in product development and provide support with raw materials and equipment where necessary, hence the decision to embark on the roadshow.
She added that the project would not only equip participants with skills but would also assist them with market sourcing for their products to promote business growth and job creation.
Ms Sekonyela said many artisans and designers are mainly known within their local communities, adding that another focus of the project is to improve their online communication and visibility to expand their clientele to regional and international markets.
She pointed out that the creative and fashion industries continue to evolve, adding that the project has partnered with international stakeholders and universities, including Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, as well as organisations such as the Lesotho National Federation of Organisations of the Disabled (LNFOD), to promote social inclusion.
Echoing these sentiments, Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition (MAFSN) Marketing Department official Mrs Malehlomela Thaka-Banna said Berea has for a long time been one of the leading districts in the wool and mohair cottage industry, but the participation of youths has remained minimal.
Mrs Thaka-Banna said the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the main sponsor of the project, had warned that it could withdraw its support if there was insufficient interest in the wool and mohair initiative.
She therefore called on youths to turn their ideas into investment opportunities through the project.
“There are some youths who have proven that creative industries are possible, and it is high time for others to come out in numbers and contribute to job creation,” she said.
Mrs Thaka-Banna stressed that there is significant value addition potential in the wool and mohair sector through processes such as weaving, cleaning, turning and sorting.
She said these processes require people to work together towards improving their livelihoods and contributing to the country’s economy.
She highlighted that the National Strategic Development Plan II, as extended, promotes job creation and private sector-led investment, urging youths to become change-makers in their communities by taking advantage of opportunities within the wool and mohair value chain.
“Creative industries, particularly wool and mohair cottage industries, are currently largely run by older women, while youths are not aware that the sector has significant potential. That is why we are inviting them to step in with fresh ideas and creative minds,” she explained.
Representing WAMCOP, Mrs Manamolela Tau said the launch of the roadshow marked a new beginning for youths and expressed confidence that the initiative would change the mindset of many young people.
Mrs Tau said the previous Wool and Mohair Promotion Project (WAMPA) mainly focused on production and environmental aspects but did not achieve the intended outcomes.
She said, through its partnership with the ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative, WAMCOP would focus specifically on wool and mohair and empower people in the creative industries through training.
Encouraging fellow youths, Bonono Clothing Brand representative Mr Chere Mongangane, who has participated in several youth incubation projects and innovation hubs, said his motivation had been a belief in hard work and producing quality brands that attract customers.
Mr Mongangane, a software engineer by profession, said he left the sector to pursue the creative industry as a career because he saw significant opportunities in it.
He said his clothing brand had so far produced two blankets and created eight jobs. He said the brand’s future plans include designing its own Seshoeshoe clothing line and establishing an online presence in South Africa, which he described as a lucrative market.
One of the longest-serving creative industry practitioners in Teyateyaneng, Hatooa Mose-Mosali Living and Gallery Manager Mrs Mathabelo Lints’i, said art is like a calling and should be handled with care.
With six years of experience in the industry, Mrs Lints’i said she had inspired others to view art as a platform for improving their livelihoods.
She said they were overwhelmed with work due to high demand from international tourists, encouraging youths to join the sector so they could transform their lives.
She noted that the sale of one mat could provide a salary for someone.
Meanwhile, one of the participants and Principal of Mohatlane Skills Training Centre, Mr Lebohang Maliehe, said they were impressed by the roadshow and looked forward to future partnerships.
He said they hoped the initiative would assist them with the production of equipment and machinery.
The Lesotho Wool and Mohair Project is scheduled to end in 2030 and is currently being implemented in five districts — Maseru, Berea, Mohale’s Hoek, Thaba-Tseka and Leribe.
ENDS/RM
Editorial point: I retained the statement that IFAD could withdraw support if there is insufficient participation because it is an important news angle. However, because it is a strong claim, it would be advisable to confirm that this was indeed the position communicated by IFAD before publication.
