Econet Telecom Lesotho (ETL) has joined forces with GEM Institute and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to launch the 2026 ACT 4 Climate Change Fruit-UP School Drive, extending a five-year collaboration that has positioned climate education and environmental action at the centre of school life across Lesotho.
This year’s drive will see more than 500 fruit trees planted at 14 schools across six districts, building on a model that has turned schools into centres for environmental education, climate resilience and skills development, a direct result of the sustained cooperation between ETL, GEM Institute and UNESCO.
The three organisations launched this year’s programme at Qhomane LECSA High School in Ha-Mofoka, Koro-Koro, reaffirming a partnership that has steadily grown in scale and ambition since its inception in 2021.
Speaking on behalf of ETL, Public Relations Specialist Retšelisitsoe Nkhahle said the company’s role in the partnership reflects a broader sense of corporate responsibility to the country.
“At Econet, we strongly believe that the role of a responsible corporate citizen goes beyond providing connectivity. We also have a responsibility to contribute meaningfully towards the communities we serve and the future we want to see for Lesotho,” Nkhahle said.
He said the Fruit-UP programme was designed to extend climate change education beyond the classroom, giving learners a hands-on role in environmental conservation while creating long-term resources for schools and surrounding communities.
Since the collaboration began in 2021, ETL and GEM Institute have jointly planted 3,397 fruit trees and reached 54 schools across all 10 districts of Lesotho, directly engaging more than 3,000 learners in practical climate action, figures that underscore the scale the partnership has achieved over five years.
Representing GEM Institute, Tšepang Khau thanked ETL for its continued partnership and its contribution to the programme’s growing impact in schools across the country.
“Today we plant trees, take responsibility and act against climate change, one tree at a time. Since 2021, GEM Institute’s ACT 4 Climate Change Programme has been educating young people and building environmental and entrepreneurial skills,” Khau said.
GEM Institute also used the occasion to highlight its ambition to promote greater recognition of indigenous plants as sources of health solutions, innovation and economic opportunity, while thanking UNESCO, ETL, participating schools, teachers and learners for their joint contribution to building a greener and more sustainable Lesotho.
Representing UNESCO, Mankopane Nkhono reaffirmed the organisation’s continued backing of GEM Institute’s climate change initiatives, noting that UNESCO has supported the programme since it began in 2021, one of the three pillars sustaining the partnership’s longevity.
Nkhono said the initiative has become an important platform for engaging young people, particularly learners, in developing environmental awareness and responsibility, while also nurturing entrepreneurial skills that empower learners to become active participants in addressing the effects of climate change.
Welcoming the programme to the school, Qhomane LECSA High School Principal Nkherepe David Mopeli expressed appreciation to ETL, GEM Institute and UNESCO for extending the initiative to the institution. The school received 50 apple and peach trees, which will be planted and maintained by the school community.
The 2026 Fruit-UP School Drive builds on five years of collaboration between the three partners, with this year’s edition placing greater emphasis on climate resilience, biodiversity conservation and practical skills development among young people, a reflection of how the partnership has matured in both reach and focus since 2021.
Nkhahle urged learners to take ownership of the trees beyond the launch, encouraging them to regard the initiative as a personal contribution to Lesotho’s environmental future.
Summary
- Econet Telecom Lesotho (ETL) has joined forces with GEM Institute and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to launch the 2026 ACT 4 Climate Change Fruit-UP School Drive, extending a five-year collaboration that has positioned climate education and environmental action at the centre of school life across Lesotho.
- This year’s drive will see more than 500 fruit trees planted at 14 schools across six districts, building on a model that has turned schools into centres for environmental education, climate resilience and skills development, a direct result of the sustained cooperation between ETL, GEM Institute and UNESCO.
- The 2026 Fruit-UP School Drive builds on five years of collaboration between the three partners, with this year’s edition placing greater emphasis on climate resilience, biodiversity conservation and practical skills development among young people, a reflection of how the partnership has matured in both reach and focus since 2021.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
