Three learners have been awarded certificates and money prizes for their salient thoughts on poverty, which is one of the major challenges facing the SADC region.

The awards were presented by the Minister of Education and Training to the young thinkers who had won the 2007 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secondary and High Schools Essay Competition. The occasion was held at national level at UNESCO Hall in Maseru on Wednesday.

The topic of the essay competition was 'What do you think are the causes of poverty in the SADC region and what steps should be taken by SADC Member States and non-state actors to eliminate poverty?'

Winners of the competition at the national level are Ntai Morebotsana who won the first prize receiving a certificate and US 500 dollars (M3, 690), Lebohang Malokotsa took the second place and receiving a certificate and 300 US dollars (M2, 214) and 'Mamoati Lekhulo got the third prize and received a certificate and 200 US (M1, 476) dollars.

The first two winners are both from Sacred Heart High School while the third winner is from Leribe English Medium High School.

Presenting the awards, Dr Mamphono Khaketla said the competition was not only introduced to enable students from the SADC countries to learn but also to encourage youth to participate in regional initiatives.

She congratulated the winners saying the given essay topic was difficult but being recognised as winners, shows that they had passion and dedicated their minds and analysis to the issue of poverty eradication in the region.

She said though Lesotho children did not win at the regional level, they wrote their essays with an analytical mind and this is an indication to the region that there is great potential amongst Basotho children.

She expressed hope that next year Lesotho will have a winner at the regional level.

Speaking on behalf of the Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Moepi Sematlane proposed that the SADC essay competition initiative and essay topics be given the widest publicity with a view to sustaining this enhanced participation in the coming years.

He also encouraged students not to wait for competitions but to be proactive and seek to know not only about their country and region but also about other regions and the entire world. He urged the students to strive to contribute to the development and improved livelihoods of their region and people.

One of the winners Lebohang Malokotsa thanked God, teachers and parents for their tireless support, saying if it was not for their assistance they could not have made it.

He said they were happy to contribute to the issue of poverty which he said is not only terrorising the SADC states but the entire Africa.

The SADC secondary and high school essay competition was introduced eight years ago among the youth of secondary and high school going age in an effort to promote appreciation and participation in the integration agenda of the region by all segments of society.

Source: LENA 30/07/2008