On Monday 6 December, the United Nations Volunteer Programme together with its partners celebrated the International Volunteer Day at the Bosco Primary School, in Liotloaneng – Berea District.

The UN Volunteers (UNV) programme in partnership with volunteer organizations like Peace Corps, the Bishop Allard Vocational Training Institute of Saint Michaels and the Mohatlane Skills Centre in TY, worked together under this year’s theme  ….Volunteering for the Millennium Development Goals,  to support  the acceleration of Millennium Development Goal 3 –  Universal Primary Education.

The occasion which was attended by the Ministry of Education  Officials, community members, the United Nations Resident Co-ordinator and other partners was commemorated with the opening of a two-classroom block, which was renovated by the local community and other unpaid workers in the spirit of volunteerism.

The classrooms, refurbished by a group of 50 volunteers from the Bishop Allard Vocational School, Mohatlane Skills Centre and the Sekomaneng Youth Groups will cater for an average of 80 more primary school pupils and help improve the learning environment for the 576 pupils attending the Bosco Primary School.

Equally important, is the fact that this symbolic gesture will ensure that more pupils including the girl child have access to basic primary education in the community.

The message from one of the Liotloaneng community elders delivering a speech during the IVD celebrations summarized it all by saying …. “indeed volunteerism is a development imperative” if we are to meet our development challenges in this community!!

The Resident Co-ordinator of the UN System in Lesotho also summarized the spirit of volunteerism in the community with these words ……………To volunteer is to share the knowledge and skill one has received without expecting much in return except for professional experience and personal growth . A volunteer is not as many people might think the description of a person who works with less pay. A volunteer is a person who has decided to give of herself or himself to contribute to a greater good. Anyone who does that should be highly commended!!!