Jean is well known to our supporting community as Co-founder of G.R.O. Lesotho and the outgoing Programs Manager. She is adamant about putting the focus at all times on individuals and projects here in Lesotho but we’ve tracked here down for her first G.R.O. Q&A.

The LEAP Career Fair is the largest event G.R.O. Lesotho has put on to date and potentially the largest Career Fair ever to be organized in Lesotho - how do you feel the event went?

I think the event was an overall success and it really demonstrated the G.R.O. philosphy of low cost high impact programming. We were able to provide 2,400 students with information and encouraged them to search outside of the careers and schools they may have been considering. All the feedback we received was positive and, more than anything, I was proud of how we presented a top of the line program to the students, high schools, tertiary schools, and the rest of the district.

In the days leading up to the event you mentioned a few times that you might have a mini-break down if things became seriously chaotic but I never saw you come close - were there many problems throughout the event and how do you think everyone dealt with them?

Logistically speaking, I think with any larger event there will be things you didn’t or couldn’t have planned for and, of course, we ran into a few barriers. However, I think the team was able to navigate the small challenges that came up and were able to easily accommodate the issues. Going into the event I wasn’t sure if we would have any serious challenges but no, I didn’t cry and spent most of the day thoroughly composed. Overall, I think we were all quite surprised how smoothly the whole thing went.

Over the past year the organization has seen tremendous growth and you have been at the centre to deal with the growing pains - where do you think G.R.O. Lesotho is in terms of potential and actualization at the moment?

You know, as a locally registered charity run by an exceptional team of basotho nationals with support from G.R.O. Canada and our current partners, including the Canada Fund, I think we have built a solid foundation of support.

In terms of potential, well, I think the potential for our Lesotho programming is mind boggling. Strong staff, strong partners, low cost - high impact programming, and an increasing recognition throughout the country - these are all great developments that are really the beginning of our vision. In terms of actualizing its potential I am completely confident that the team we have on the ground is able to recognize what the organization is capable of and use their tools and available resources to really follow through and continue to come up with ways forward in strengthening local communities.

I know that you had been dreading and avoiding this Q&A but thanks for taking the time to sit down and speak a little bit about the current G.R.O. Lesotho programming.

Posted under Notes from Lesotho