Action Lesotho is managed by an unpaid voluntary Board of Directors in Ireland and a staff of ten in Lesotho, including an In-Country Director. This is complemented by a team of part-time workers, volunteers and consultants.
Staff in Lesotho:
Pippa Kearon (Development Representative) – has over 25 years of experience in community development, adult & special education, marketing and crafts. She is responsible for overall project implementation in Lesotho and has been in the position since 2011.
Saskia Czimenga (Monitoring and Evaluation Officer) – joined Action Lesotho in March in 2016 with the responsibility of ensuring that all goals, strategies and action plans are effectively and efficiently carried out and she compiles monthly, quarterly and annual impact reports for the Board of Directors, Irish Aid and other funders. She has a BA in Political and Social Studies and came to Action Lesotho having completed one year with the UNESCO National Commission in Lesotho.
Dominic Matooane (Tourism, arts and craft enterprise officer) – is an ex-bank manager, with experience in business planning. His main responsibility is to train budding entrepreneurs focused on business start-ups in tourism, arts and crafts in four regions across Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) and Basotho Enterprise Development Corporation (BEDCO).
Mantai Mpesi (Craft Sector Support Service Officer) – graduated from Limkokwing Design University with a BA in Business Information Technology in 2015. She is responsible for our Craft Sector Support Services offering a range of technical and business trainings, mentoring support services to craft companies through Lesotho Mountain Crafts emerging companies under Action Lesotho’s partnership agreement with LTDC and BEDCO for tourism, arts and craft development.
Mampoi Nyenye (Textile Youth Employment Programme Officer) – is a diploma graduate of Lerotholi Polytechnic in Marketing Management. She is responsible for working with unemployed youth in the Ha Maqele area. She runs the Textile Youth Employment Programme whereby Action Lesotho provide intensive training in operating industrial sewing machines which enables these young people to seek employment in the many textile factories in the area.
Molemo Lethea (Farm Manager) – has 6 years of successful commercial farming experience. Severe drought and adverse climate conditions have encouraged the farm to diversify and trial more resistant crops such as winter wheat, sorghum and beans. He spent 3 months working on farms in Ireland which gave an opportunity to learn from and compare notes with Irish agriculturalists. He is responsible for managing the Action Lesotho model farm and works with local landowners to encourage them to maximize the potential of their lands.
Limakatso Rantoa (MalimphoProgramme Officer) – graduated in Tourism Management from the University of Lesotho and gained her first experience working in South Africa. She is responsible for Action Lesotho’s sick patient programme and coordinates the nurses visits to patients, provides support services to her clients, facilitates rehabilitation and training towards employment or start-up businesses for recovering clients. She co-ordinates the monthly delivery of essential food, health and hygiene items to each client.
Mats’ireletso Kanetsi (Children’s Programme Officer) – is a diploma graduate in Lesotho College of Education inSecondary teaching. She is responsible for the children’s programme; she manages the support services for nutrition, health care and education to the orphans and vulnerable children at the centre.
Marethabile Lalane (Children’s Programme Assistant) – graduated with a diploma in primary education from Lesotho College of Education. She is responsible for assisting the Children’s Programme Officer in helping children academically and assists with the nutrition and health care services.
Mphoko Molatsa (Accounts Manager and Financial Advisor) – is an accountancy graduate who is responsible for annual budgeting and managing all of Action Lesotho’s day-to- day accounts. He recently joined the Innovation and Entrepreneurship team providing financial advisory services to the craft sector under the Action Lesotho Craft Sector Support Service and the Action Lesotho Tourism, Arts and Crafts Development Programme.
Thapelo Khasela (Sales, Purchasing and Distribution Co-ordinator) – is an accountancy graduate who is responsible for processing craft sector orders and coordinates distribution. He works with Action Lesotho Craft Company outlets to manage stock control and sales systems. He is responsible for the bulk purchases of raw materials for craft sector companies in Lesotho and further assists them with marketing supports. He is in charge of quality control.
Makamohelo Futho (Nurse) – is a Registered Nurse who works for Action Lesotho part-time. She is responsible for counselling and healthcare services forclients in the Malimpho Programme & assessing the health of children on the weekend programme.
Mahlonepho Makirika (Action Lesotho Administrator) – graduated from Career Development Training Institute with Secretarial & Administrative Studies. She has been working with Action Lesotho as the Administrator since 2014 September. She provides administrative support to all projects and coordinates our social media and PR.
Malefetsane Mabesele (Miller) – operates the hammer mill & is a farm labourer.
Salang Lehlatsoa (Farm Assistant) – looks after the dairy cow/s and vegetable gardens and is a general farm labourer.
Board of Directors:
Paul Hanrahan (Chairman) – a businessman who has started several enterprises. He provides advice to the team in Lesotho on general development issues and enterprise.
David Buttimer (Company Secretary & Treasurer) – a retired economist who has managed several businesses. He is responsible for financial governance within Action Lesotho.
Brian Flaherty, MVB, MApplSc, MRCVS – a farmer & veterinary surgeon who provides agricultural advice and mentoring to the farm team in Lesotho
Eileen Coates, MA, NCEA – ceramics artist & retired university lecturer. She sits on the Skills & Training and Enterprise sub-committees and is responsible for Action Lesotho’s development education activities.
Pauline Carroll –
Dr Jacqui O’Riordan, MA, PhD – Senior Lecturer in University College Cork with experience of social research in Tanzania and Lesotho. She is chairperson of the Skills & Training sub-committee, with a special interest in education.
Dr Diane Foord, MB.Bch.DCH. – is a General Practitioner with experience in Lesotho. She provides advice on the health & nutrition aspects of the projects and mentors our nurse.
Clare Heardman, BSc, MSc, is a Civil Servant who is responsible for producing the Action Lesotho newsletter and managing our online presence (website, Facebook & Twitter).
Consultants and Voluntary Advisors:
Craft Enterprises
Anne Ritchie, International Craft Marketing Consultant, Spain.
Morag Tweedie, artist and lecturer in Art, Design & Textiles, Orkney.
Anne Ferguson, craft & design practitioner and lecturer, Glasgow.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Training Programme
Nick Allen, Consultant in Enterprise & Innovation, Dublin.
Maurice Knightly, Lecturer at UCD’s Innovation Academy, Dublin.
Carl von Maltitz (Community Agricultural Enterprise Trainer) – is an experienced South African farmer who works part-time for Action Lesotho. He acted as an Agricultural Advisor to the farm for 3 years before specializing in Innovation and Entrepreneurship trainings for agriculture. His role is to work with community agricultural groups providing training, mentoring, monitoring and evaluation to individuals and groups in the Leribe District who hope to create their living from agriculture.
Skills Development
Teresa Moriarty, Trainer of Teachers in TEFL, Co. Kerry.
Gertrude Cotter, MA/Msc Dev Mgt Development Management & Intercultural Communications UCC, Cork.
To see copies of Action Lesotho’s policies in relation to Governance, Partnership, Financial Procedures, etc Click Here