In July 2025, the Prime Minister of Lesotho declared a national state of emergency: more than 50% of young people are unemployed, and overall unemployment stands above 30%. These are not just numbers — they are the stories of my friends, peers, and the community I grew up in.

My name is Nchome Felix Kotelo, and I was born and raised in Lesotho. Growing up, opportunity often felt like a distant dream. The only reason I am not counted among those statistics is because someone, somewhere, chose to believe in me. Through scholarships, I studied across three continents — in Norway, Italy, and the United States — and that support transformed my life.

Now, it’s my turn to extend that same hand to the young people of Lesotho.

That’s why - in collaboration with regional entrepreneurs, investors and organizations - we have launched the Tholoana Impact Hub — the only non-profit of its kind in Lesotho dedicated solely to empowering startups and small businesses. Our mission is to:

We are starting small, but thinking big. With just $10,000, we can launch our first accelerator cycle in partnership with local corporations and regional entrepreneurs. The program will culminate in a Demo Day, where the SMEs and startups will pitch to the Hub as well as local and regional investors for pre-seed funding. The aim is to have at least two businesses in this first cohort funded to expand operations. This isn’t charity — it’s the start of building a self-sustaining entrepreneurial ecosystem that Lesotho urgently needs.

Our dream is simple yet powerful: a Lesotho where every young person with an idea has a chance to turn it into a business, and every small business has the tools to grow, hire, and thrive.

This first program is more than a project — it’s a spark that can ignite lasting change. I invite you to join us in planting the seeds of Lesotho’s future.