The UNESCO Youth Desk was established following the first UNESCO African Youth Forum (Burkina Faso, 2007) and the fifth UNESCO Youth Forum (Paris, 2007). The program aims to engage young people in UNESCO’s activities and development.
The Youth Desk operates through seven thematic subgroups:
On the 26th of April, UNESCO and the Envirocare Club from Lerotholi Polytechnic celebrated Mother Earth Day together.
We conducted an Educational Session on climate change, waste and sustainability, and
concluded the activity with a Cleanup from Lerotholi Polytechnic to Seputana.
There is only so much you can do on your own. We need more activists for change. Speak up for our environment and make the world a better place.
“The earth does not belong to us, we belong to the earth.” – Chief Seattle
On April 5th, we held a Capacity Building Workshop for the UNESCO Youth Desk. During the session, our volunteers learned more about what UNESCO does and how they can be part of it. Former Youth Desk members and the GEM Institute joined us to talk about their own journeys and how young people can get involved. We also ran a hands-on session on how to manage ideas and write proposals, which gave everyone useful tools to work on their own projects. Thank you to everyone who helped make this workshop possible and shared their time and knowledge with us. “The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.” – Nelson Mandela
On the 21st of March, the Lesotho National Commission for UNESCO commemorated the World Poetry Day together with the
UNESCO Youth Desk of Lesotho and GEM Institute.
Together with poets and musicians, we recognized the unique ability of poetry to capture the essence of human experiences,
express emotions, preserve freedom of expression and cultural identities.
UNESCO Hall in Maseru came alive with the power of words, music, and meaningful dialogue. Topics ranged from Lesotho and
Unity to Mental Health, Environmental Action, Human Trafficking, African Heritage and Visions for our Future.
Practiced throughout history – in every culture and on every continent – poetry speaks to our common humanity and our
shared values, transforming the simplest of poems into a powerful catalyst for dialogue and peace.
Stay up to date for more events like this!
The UNESCO Youth Desk of Lesotho held its first meeting on January 15th 2025.
We are gearing up to champion the voices of young people in Lesotho,
ensuring that they are heard. This youth-led initiative serves as a
platform for growth and personal development. With a focus on empowering
youth, it aims to inspire change, encourage young people to actively seek
knowledge, leverage available resources, and make informed decisions to
address pressing challenges in our communities.
