Manteboheleng Mabetha has more than 15 years of experience in gender mainstreaming and related development challenges in Lesotho. She has worked with multiple national institutions and NGOs on gender related topics such as gender integration, gender-based violence (GBV) gender and climate justice and capacity building and training focused on woman's empowerment. She is also a member of the Southern African Gender Protocol Alliance.

Manteboheleng  previously served as Principal District Gender Officer for the Ministry of Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation, where she was responsible for the coordination of the national gender program at the district level. In 2014, she joined Gender Links to become the Lesotho Country Manager. In her role at Gender Link, Manteboheleng has been engaged in the design of innovative projects, including the development of the smart phone app for Gender Based Violence.

Her expertise in women's rights has contributed to the implementation of programs which have yielded positive results and has shaped women’s issues in Lesotho despite working with limited human resources. These include contributing to laws and policies that have changed the status of women. She has also worked on projects for community development in ten districts of Lesotho.

IVLP Impact Award Project: Voice and Choice for Improved Decision Making

The project provided support to 130 students in grades 8-10 who were directly reached through the establishment of youth clubs in two secondary schools in Mokhotlong district. The youth clubs were used as a platform to increase the capacity of adolescents to have access to the right information for informed decision-making in the context of gender inequality, regressive societal values, cultural norms and practices, socio-economic limitations, health related issues and the negative influence of peer pressure and social media. Three workshops were organized at each club, improving the students' self-awareness, leadership, conflict resolution, confidence, and mentoring skills, while they also learned about gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse. There were 15 stories of change collected from the two schools, and there has already been a 5% decrease in the number of pregnancies and GBV/SEA cases reported in the schools.

"I get very...worried seeing little girls dropping out of school as a result of pregnancy. I am very happy to have been part of this training as I will impart the knowledge that I gained to my friends." - Project Participant

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Manteboheleng participated in the IVLP Project Ending Gender-Based Violence, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center in partnership with San Diego Diplomacy Council, Colorado Springs World Affairs Council, Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy, Global Ties Sacramento, Global Ties Miami and WorldChicago.

Manteboheleng's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "[IVLP] has inspired me to dedicate my time [to] empowering young people to have information and skills that will help them break the circle of GBV, because they are the future."

U.S. Communities Visited

Sacramento, CA; San Diego, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Washington, DC; Miami, FL; Chicago, IL; Salt Lake City, UT

Country: Lesotho 

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