Newsday sat down with Econet Telecom Lesotho (ETL) to discuss the work of the Higherlife Foundation, a philanthropic initiative that has, over the years, quietly but powerfully changed the lives of thousands of young Basotho through education, leadership, and care. ETL gave us a deep dive into the Foundation’s origins, focus areas, major scholarship programs, and the real-life impact on Lesotho’s youth.
Newsday: Can you give us an overview of the HigherLife Foundation, its origins, mission, and the key focus areas it operates in, particularly in Lesotho?
ETL: Higherlife Foundation is a Pan-African philanthropic organisation and a social corporate investment arm of Econet Group, established in 1996 by Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa. Rooted in a deep commitment to human capital development, the Foundation empowers vulnerable and high-potential individuals through education, health, and leadership initiatives across several countries, including Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Burundi. In Lesotho, the Foundation is fully funded and wholly owned by Econet Telecom Lesotho to deliver two flagship scholarship programs tailored to meet both the immediate and long-term needs of young people. The Capernaum Scholarship is designed to provide comprehensive support to orphaned and vulnerable children. This program offers holistic care, which includes school fees, learning materials, psychosocial support, mentorship, nutrition, and hygiene to students from secondary school throughout tertiary. It ensures that the most vulnerable children are not only kept in school but are nurtured to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Complementing this is the Moshoeshoe I Scholarship, a merit-based leadership scholarship which identifies and supports academically gifted students with a strong emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines. Named in honour of King Moshoeshoe I, this scholarship seeks to cultivate a generation of problem-solvers and innovators equipped to lead Lesotho into a more prosperous future.
Newsday: The Foundation has recently called for applications for the 2025 edition of the educational Moshoeshoe I Scholarship. What inspired the creation of this scholarship, and what criteria are used to identify beneficiaries?
ETL: The 2025 edition of the Moshoeshoe I Scholarship has recently opened for applications, continuing the Foundation’s commitment to advancing academic excellence in Lesotho. The inspiration behind the creation of this scholarship stemmed from the urgent need to address the country’s critical skills deficit, particularly in fields related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Recognising that national development hinges on a well-equipped and innovative workforce, HigherLife Foundation Lesotho launched the Moshoeshoe I Scholarship in 2022 to identify, support, and empower academically gifted students with the potential to drive meaningful change. The scholarship targets high-achieving Basotho students who demonstrate exceptional academic performance (minimum 7As), leadership potential, and a commitment to community service. Selection is also guided by financial need, ensuring that promising students from under-resourced backgrounds are not left behind. Through this initiative, the Foundation seeks to nurture a new generation of homegrown talent capable of contributing to Lesotho’s socio-economic transformation. Higherlife Foundation remains steadfast in its mission to uplift lives, unlock potential, and build a legacy of educated, resilient, and visionary African leaders.
Newsday: What kinds of support, be it financial, academic, psychological or otherwise, do scholarship recipients receive? And how long does the support typically last?
ETL: Capernaum Scholarship support includes:
- Financial Assistance: Covers tuition fees, examination fees, school levies, and provides educational materials, and over four thousand scholars have benefited
- Academic Support: over two hundred thousand scholars have benefited from mentorship and life skills trainings under Capernaum to enhance academic performance and their personal development.
- Psychosocial Support: Provides counselling and emotional support through the Foundation’s Guardianship and Pastoral Care unit, addressing the social challenges that may affect the beneficiaries’ ability to learn and thrive.
- Health and Nutrition: Supplies food hampers to those in dire need and ensures access to medical care for scholars with chronic illnesses or those who fall ill.
The scholarship typically supports beneficiaries until they attain a tertiary qualification, ensuring a continuum of care and support throughout their educational journey.
Moshoeshoe I Scholarship support includes:
- Financial Support: Covers university tuition fees for students studying STEM courses at universities in Lesotho, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, as well as their monthly stipends
- Leadership Development: Encourages recipients to develop leadership skills and a commitment to community service, aligning with the scholarship’s goal of fostering competent leaders who can address the skills deficit in Lesotho.
The duration of support typically spans the length of the undergraduate program, providing sustained assistance throughout the course of study.
Newsday: To date, how many students have benefited from the Moshoeshoe I Scholarship in country?
ETL: We are pleased to share that this marks the fourth cohort of the Moshoeshoe I Scholarship since its inception in 2022. To date, 30 academically gifted scholars have been recruited into the program, and we are delighted to report that we are actively recruiting an additional 10 scholars into the scholarship again this year.
Newsday: Can you share some success stories of former scholarship recipients who have made a significant impact either locally or internationally?
ETL: That has to be the story of one of our fellow Thikhoi Molapo, a Capernaum Scholar from Leribe, who stands as a shining example of the power of a purpose-driven education and youth leadership. After earning a place at the prestigious STAR Leadership Academy in Zimbabwe through the Higherlife Foundation’s Merit Scholarship, she continued her academic journey at Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa, where she is currently pursuing the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Thikhoi’s unwavering commitment to innovation and community empowerment has earned her widespread recognition. In 2024, she won first place in the Allan Gray Business Pitch Competition, emerging as the top young entrepreneur out of more than 200 participants from Southern Africa. Her entrepreneurial project, Electro veg growth, focuses on sustainable agriculture and youth empowerment, which is proof of her vision to address food security and unemployment in Lesotho. She was also one of six winners of the SEBABATSO Youth Empowerment Program in 2023, receiving a $2,500 grant to advance her community development work. Additionally, her scientific curiosity led her to represent Lesotho at the prestigious Eskom Expo International Science Fair. Today, Thikhoi serves as the Deputy National General Council and HR Manager at LIDDO Africa, where she champions youth inclusion in decision-making processes across the continent.
Newsday: What have been the main challenges in running the scholarship program in Lesotho, particularly in reaching remote or underserved communities?
ETL: One of the key challenges we encountered in implementing the scholarship program in Lesotho was the limited and in some cases, complete lack of access to the internet in rural communities. This digital divide was further compounded by low levels of digital literacy, which often hindered the application process and communication with potential beneficiaries. Through Econet Telecom Lesotho’s continuing network coverage expansion, the Foundation implemented targeted measures to ensure that no deserving student was excluded due to technological or geographic barriers. We also collaborated with District Education Managers’ offices, leveraging their established presence within local education systems. On scheduled dates, our staff members travelled to these districts to provide direct, in-person support, assisting students and guardians with application submissions, disseminating scholarship information, and verifying documentation. This community-based approach significantly improved accessibility and deepened our engagement with learners and educators in the previously underserved areas. It demonstrated our ongoing commitment to inclusivity and equitable access to educational opportunities for all.
Newsday: Apart from the Moshoeshoe I Scholarship, are there other educational or social support initiatives that Higherlife Foundation runs in Lesotho? If so, could you briefly explain each?
ETL: In addition to the Moshoeshoe I Scholarship, HigherLife Foundation implements several impactful educational and social support initiatives countrywide. The Foundation supports all registered children’s homes (orphanages) in the country through capacity-strengthening workshops for home directors and finance managers, offers psychosocial support trainings to caregivers, and direct education support to the children. Additional assistance is also provided based on specific needs raised by the homes, such as the need to refurbish the homes, as it was the case with Reitumetse Children’s Home in Mazenod and Semonkong Children’s Home in Semonkong. We also have a Leadership and Lifelong Development pillar, which offers mentorship to secondary school students across the country in collaboration with key partners. This program focuses on character development, personal growth, future readiness and career guidance. The Foundation also provides spiritual care and counselling at selected schools. In collaboration with Her Majesty’s Hlokomela Banana initiative, HigherLife Foundation Lesotho has been supporting over fifteen thousand adolescent girls from nine schools with dignity packs, ensuring that they manage their monthly periods with dignity and remain in school without interruption. These programs reflect our holistic approach to empowering vulnerable children and youth through education, care, and lifelong development.
Newsday: How does the Foundation partner with schools, communities, and government institutions to identify vulnerable children in need of support?
ETL: Higherlife Foundation adopts a collaborative and community-driven approach to identifying vulnerable children. We work closely with schools, leveraging the insights of principals, teachers, and social workers who are well-positioned to identify learners at risk of dropping out due to financial or social hardship. We also engage community leaders, including village chiefs and caregivers, whose grassroots knowledge is vital in reaching children outside formal school systems. In addition, we maintain strong partnerships with key government institutions, particularly the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development, to align our support with national priorities and ensure referrals are validated and impactful. This multi-stakeholder model ensures that our interventions are both targeted and equitable, allowing us to reach the most vulnerable children with timely and relevant support.
Newsday: How many students have benefited from the other education programs run by the Foundation in Lesotho?
ETL: From Inception in 2011 in Lesotho, we have impacted over 200,000 students across the nation with mentorship, Dignity pack distributions, as well as Pastoral Care contributions.
Newsday: In monetary terms, how much has Higherlife spent on investing in educational or social support initiatives in the country to date?
ETL: Since its inception in Lesotho, HigherLife Foundation, through Econet Telecom Lesotho, has invested nearly M117 million in educational and social support initiatives across the country.
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.
