The Queen Mother, Queen 'Mamohato Seeiso has awarded certificates to graduates of four vocational schools of Morija, Rothe, Pitseng and Maseru at an official opening of the Kholisetso Vocational School in the district on Thursday 05 December,2002.

Speaking at the occasion, the Queen Mother told the graduates to work hard in order to pay back what their parents have invested in them by sending them to the Vocational School despite of the poverty that prevails in the country. She said the graduates should strive to become self-employed so that they do not depend on other people, adding that they are lucky because their profession will enable them to create job opportunities for other people and by so doing they will be reducing the high rate of unemployment in the country. The Queen Mother pleaded to communities to take care of HIV/AIDS orphans and to treat them with respect and love rather than to isolate them, as it is the case now.

Speaking at the same occasion, the First Lady, Mrs. 'Mathato Mosisili said the graduates have been equipped with the skills of fighting poverty for their families and the people that they will employ. Mrs. Mosisili said the certificates mean nothing and what counts is the way the graduates will use what they have learnt in order to bring change in their lives and that of other people in their areas. She appealed to the members of the society to treat HIV/AIDS orphans with dignity and to give them first priority in donations that are meant for them, as they have no one to take care of them.

Mrs. Mosisili said it is unfortunate that Basotho lost their culture to an extend that there are child headed families in the country, a culture unheard of in the past, adding that it is pathetic to see young children taking care of their sick parents instead of playing with other children and enjoying the state of being young. " We need a strong support system to help our HIV/AIDS orphans so as to remove the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS, " she added.

The four Vocational Schools are a product of the Lesotho National Council of  Women whose patron is Queen 'Mamohato Seeiso and was formed in 1964, and helped in establishing pre-schools and Vocational schools in the country.

05 December,2002