Support The Hub in Morija, Lesotho

Margot Leger is organising this fundraiser.

Donation protected

In 2013, I arrived in Morija, a small village in Lesotho, fresh out of Harvard and on assignment to film stories of people in the area for a documentary film project. That winter, it was hard to not to fall in love with the place, the warmth of the community as all-encompassing as the freezing nights spent huddled around a fire. The internet was so bad then, that “checking my emails”, meant calling my mom from the tallest rock and getting her to read them outloud to me on the phone. I drove the 60 minutes to Maseru when I wanted a better connection.

Fast forward five years, and the situation has completely changed.

In 2015, my friends started The Hub, a creative technology lab which provides the community with affordable access to computers, a library, the internet and digital media training. I visited in August, and the desks were filled with a range of people: teenagers researching homework assignments, children playing educational games online, and a community member working on a job proposal. In the afternoon, an Italian filmmaker showed his work to some of the Hub members interested in filmmaking. The space is open 5 days a week as a resource. They have regular workshops: on animation, photography, filmmaking, cartooning, social issues, motivational talks, you name it. For 100 maloti ($7), members can sign up for a year’s membership. It is the only space in Morija that provides affordable access to computers and the internet. There are over 300 members at present.

What struck me most about The Hub is not only the resources it provides, but the inspired, motivated, and socially conscious community that has formed around it. In a country with a 40% youth unemployment rate, it’s providing opportunities for young people to learn, create and grow.

Currently The Hub is staffed by three volunteers that get a monthly stipend. They are essential to the day-to-day operations of The Hub, and are talented creators in their own right. With this fundraiser, I am raising money to help fund their stipends, and other general running costs of The Hub, like rent and transport.

The Hub fosters creativity, real world-skills and community development. It is adding so much value to this village. I am so excited to see it grow from strength to strength.

Please join me in supporting The Hub!

Perks:

€25 – Digital copy of Word Power: The Hub’s annual creative writing magazine
€50 – Above + two sponsored memberships in your name
€100 – Above + your name in the credits of the next film produced
€200 – Above + a personal video shout-out sent to you