…to raise funds for children with disability
Leemisa Thuseho
PRIME Minister Sam Matekane will once again host the Education Charity Golf Day this year to raise funds for the procurement of assistive devices for children living with disabilities from various schools across the country.
The tournament, now in its second edition since its inception last year, is scheduled for 27 March 2026 at the Maseru Golf Course. The event will conclude with a fundraising gala and awards dinner at the Maseru Golf Club.
Spearheaded by the Ministry of Education and Training, in partnership with UNICEF, Econet Telecom Lesotho and Vodacom Lesotho, the tournament brings together corporate teams to compete in a four-ball format for a good cause. The event is open to both local and international corporations and players.
Participating companies are required to register their teams at M50 000, with the tournament accommodating a maximum of 72 players.
Last year’s edition raised M1 164 500, which was used to procure assistive devices for learners with disabilities. A total of 598 children benefited from the initiative.
The donated assistive devices included wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, spectacles, tablets, hearing aids, school boots, among others. These devices promote inclusive education by enabling learners with disabilities to overcome learning barriers, fostering independence and academic success.
Inviting the corporate sector to participate, Minister of Education and Training, Ntoi Rapapa, said the tournament is not only a sporting and social event but, more importantly, a platform to mobilise resources and partnerships in support of education.
He said this year’s edition seeks to build on the momentum generated last year.
“This initiative forms part of the government’s ongoing commitment to improving access to quality education, particularly for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds,” Rapapa said during a media briefing this week at State House in Maseru.
“We seek to strengthen partnerships and broaden participation in this noble cause. We therefore invite members of the private sector, organisations and individuals of goodwill to support this initiative.”
Rapapa added that education remains the foundation of national development, noting that initiatives such as the Education Charity Golf Day demonstrate what can be achieved when government, the private sector and society work together for the benefit of children and the future of Lesotho.
He expressed hope that this year’s tournament would impact a larger number of children compared to last year, including those with special needs who are currently not enrolled in school.
UNICEF Country Representative, Deepak Bhaskaran, said the organisation was honoured to be part of the initiative and expressed optimism that more funds would be raised this year.
“We are excited to use this opportunity and the resources mobilised to support children. Our hope is to raise more funding this time so that we can reach children in all districts across Lesotho,” Bhaskaran said.
Meanwhile, Vodacom Lesotho Chief Executive Officer, Mohale Ralebitso, called on local corporates to come on board and support the initiative.
“We urge local corporates and individuals to join this initiative and invest in the future of our youth.
“If we believe in the future of our children, we must be willing to make sacrifices to support them in becoming the best versions of themselves,” Ralebitso said.
Echoing the same sentiments, Econet Telecom Lesotho General Manager for Sales and Services, Lebohang Ramaisa, said that despite being competitors in the market, corporates should unite behind initiatives aimed at improving the lives of Basotho.
