BUILDING CAPACITY OF YOUNG UNEMPLOYED GRADUATES IN LESOTHO: STORY OF A NATIONAL VOLUNTEER

My name is Mohau Tšilo a recent Law graduate from the National University of Lesotho who was assigned to the High Court of Lesotho in February 2010 under the National Volunteer Corps Programme.

I am one, amongst the over two hundred volunteers recruited under this programme in 2010 and one amongst sixty nine volunteers who have found permanent employment. I currently work with the Ministry of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation in Lesotho.

During my assignment as a volunteer, I had the esteemed privilege of working in the High Court of Lesotho as a Judge’s Clerk to three High Court Judges; Her Ladyship Madam Justice Nthomeng Majara, His Lordship Justice Semapo Peete and His Lordship Justice Ts'eliso Monaphati.

The learning opportunities that came with the assignment were more than I had envisaged as a National Volunteer,  as I immediately got exposed to attending court sessions with the Honourable judges, recording and weighing evidence led before the court and filing and organizing court records. I truly realized during this experience that the National Volunteer Corp programme was providing an invaluable opportunity for me to build my capacity and equip me with the experience needed to support my country in meeting the Millennium Development Goals.  

As a National Volunteer at work	The Volunteer with his colleagues

All throughout my assignment, I enjoyed high levels of trust with the institution of the High Court and my supervisors. I also benefitted from trainings organized by the High Court with the highlight of it all coming during my participation in the judicial symposium organized by the International Commission of Jurists. This symposium gave me an opportunity to network with International Law Practitioners, International Law Professors and Judges from different Jurisdictions,…….. a dream experience for any young law graduate.

Today I have been able to secure permanent employment thanks to a large extent to the opportunity provided under the National Volunteer Corp to serve as a volunteer and have my character, capacity and courage built to serve Lesotho.