At Leaders of Change Initiatives on Community Development, we are truly grateful for the opportunity to engage with the Young Women of Africa (YWOA) movement and to be featured in the upcoming Lesotho YWOA Leadership Seminar, held under the theme Advance Her. This platform not only amplifies the voices of young women across the continent but also aligns with our own mission to advance sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—especially SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, which emphasizes collaboration as the foundation for progress.

One of the inspiring voices featured in this year’s seminar is Moliehi Nkhabu, Head of Media for YWOA Southern Region and Chairperson of YWOA Lesotho Chapter. Her story is a powerful testament to resilience, transformation, and the unwavering determination to create space for women in leadership.

A Journey from Rural Roots to Leadership

Moliehi hails from the rural village of Thuhloane, Mokhotlong—an environment where culture was often valued above human rights, and women’s voices were silenced. Growing up, she recalls being confined to house chores, with little room to explore her interests or claim her voice.

Her life took a turn when she enrolled at the National University of Lesotho, where she was exposed to diverse perspectives on women’s empowerment. Politics soon became her entry point into leadership. Motivated by the desire to change the mindset of her community, she joined the BNP Youth League, later rising to the position of President in 2023.

During this journey, she encountered the Young Women of Africa movement through its President, who introduced her to the organization. She immediately joined, inspired by its vision to capacitate and empower women across the continent.

Building a Continental Sisterhood

The Young Women of Africa is a continental movement uniting young women from diverse backgrounds—liberation movements, academia, civil society, feminism, and professional spaces. Together, they seek to transform the socioeconomic conditions of women across Africa.

Moliehi’s current roles as Head of Media for the Southern Region and Chairperson of YWOA Lesotho Chapter allow her to align Lesotho’s efforts with the broader vision of YWOA: to create solidarity among women, amplify their voices, and produce knowledgeable, confident, and teachable leaders for the future.

The Impact of Advance Her

The upcoming Advance Her Leadership Seminar is more than an event—it is a movement. For Moliehi, it symbolizes empowerment, capacity building, and YWOA’s commitment to gender equality in Lesotho and beyond.

The seminar also tackles pressing issues such as gender-based violence, period poverty, cultural norms, and ageism, all of which hinder young women’s participation in leadership. Through dialogue and platforms like these, YWOA is creating opportunities for women to step into politics, business, social change, and faith-based leadership.

A Vision for the Future

When asked about her hopes for the future, Moliehi envisions YWOA as a catalyst for strengthening solidarity among women, instilling confidence, and shaping a society where women’s voices actively influence the future.

Her message is clear: “Where there is no unity, there is no progress. We aim to build a society where women’s voices shape the future. Lesotho for me, Lesotho for you, Lesotho for us.”

Our Reflection as Leaders of Change Initiatives

We are thankful to YWOA for featuring us in this important event. As an organization committed to sustainability and community development, we see this collaboration as a step forward in advancing the SDGs, particularly SDG 17, which underscores the importance of partnerships. By working together—across organizations, nations, and communities—we can build a better Africa for women and for generations to come.