Twenty-eight young people in Lesotho completed the History Makers Journey Leadership Training, gaining practical leadership skills and becoming certified trainers who can support the leadership development of other young leaders.
Held from 8 to 13 July 2026 at Makoanyane Primary School in Maseru, the six-day programme focused on helping young people become more confident, responsible and service-oriented leaders.
Organised by the National Youth Forum of the Lesotho Scout Association in partnership with the Leadership Institute of Zambia Students Association, the training explored leadership through integrity, service, teamwork, vision and the development of others.
The training is part of History Makers Journey, a leadership development programme of the International Leadership Institute (ILI). Working across more than 150 countries, ILI equips leaders with the character, skills and mindset to create positive change and develop leadership in others. More than 400,000 leaders and trainers have participated in its programmes globally.
Turning leadership into practice
Throughout the programme, participants explored key areas of leadership that they can apply in their Scout groups, schools, organisations and communities.
The training challenged young people to lead with integrity and strong character, develop a clear sense of purpose and vision, build healthy relationships and effective teams, and strengthen their ability to mentor and develop other leaders.
Participants also explored how leadership can influence positive change in communities and how leaders can create a lasting impact by sharing their knowledge and empowering others to lead. For Kamohelo Leteka, the experience changed his understanding of what leadership means in practice.
I walked into the leadership workshop thinking I already knew how to manage people. I walked out realising leadership is about serving, listening, and growing others first. The facilitators made everything practical, not just theory. I left with tools I used the very next day. My confidence as a leader has grown, and so has trust within my team
His experience reflects one of the programme's central ideas: leadership becomes meaningful when what is learned is put into action.
Creating opportunities for young people to lead
Through initiatives like this, the National Youth Forum is creating meaningful opportunities for young people to strengthen their leadership skills and play a more active role in shaping the future of the Lesotho Scout Association and their communities.
The 28 participants who completed the programme received History Makers Journey Trainer Certificates, enabling them to share what they have learned and support the development of other young leaders. They also joined a global network of History Makers Journey alumni, giving them opportunities to connect, exchange experiences and learn from a wider community of practice.
For the National Youth Forum, the initiative is also a practical example of putting the International Leadership Training (ILT) into action. By building partnerships with organisations that share a commitment to youth leadership, young people in Lesotho are expanding opportunities to learn, lead and strengthen their capacity to create positive change.