Mamolefe Petlane is the director of Sesotho Media & Development, a non-governmental organization based in Maseru, Lesotho. After graduating from National University of Lesotho's Mass Communication Program, she joined Sesotho Media & Development.  Mamolefe also enrolled with the University of Cape Town's Advanced Project Management Program, which she completed in 2020. She believes audio visual communication is one of the best ways to engage the public on social development issues. She is one of the few female leaders in the country that is active in the civil society sector. She has been involved in community development work for over two decades. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Young Women Through Reproductive and Sexual Health Education

This project worked with 47 community leaders and 7 professional partners to train and support 97 adolescent girls and young women from marginalized, underserved rural communities in reproductive and sexual health education. By capacitating a youth and female led organization, the project provided sexual health education and awareness to the local community and improved access to related funding. The seminars used film as a tool for educating on safe, consensual and pleasurable sex. Four radio programs aired facilitated public conversations about sexual exploitation caused by poverty and how to build inclusive communities that accommodate all, regardless of one's sexual orientation.

Project introduction to community leaders in June 2022.

Youth team members participating in the screening session with AGYW and ABYM about sexual reproductive health rights

Youth team took part in an expert-led capacity building workshop on finance, programming and monitoring and evaluation.

Check out her project here: IVLP Lesotho - YouTube

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Mamolefe was a participant in the IVLP Project NGO Management I organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center.

Mamolefe's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "My IVLP experience was very informative and exciting. I look forward to using lessons learned to empower youth, including women and girls in Lesotho to become active agents of change in their communities."

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually

Little Rock, AL; Denver, CO; Washington, DC; Miami, FL; Atlanta, GA; St. Louis, MO; Buffalo, NY; West Reading, PA; Pittsburgh, PA

Country: Lesotho

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