Prince Harry Will Visit South Africa and Lesotho in Early October
Prince Harry is having a busy autumn.
Fresh off the Duke's New York City trip, Sentebale announced that Harry will be visiting Lesotho and South Africa in early October. It will mark his first return to the region since his and Meghan Markle's visit in 2019, and he will be joined by Sentebale co-founding patron Prince Seesio.
"It fills me, the team, and our wider community with joy to welcome Prince Harry or Mohale as we affectionately refer to him by his Sesotho royal name which means 'warrior,'" Prince Seeiso said. "Now more than ever, as we look to the challenges of our young generation here in Lesotho, the collective energy of both local and international individuals and organizations who see the potential in these youth, is embraced. We know that there are bright futures at stake, and we continue to approach our work with the vision that all children can be empowered, healthy and resilient through sustainable solutions that can ultimately be locally driven."
"Through its work in Lesotho and Botswana, Sentebale has developed a profound understanding of local youth – their passions, their concerns, and their extraordinary creativity," Prince Harry said in a statement about the visit. "These young adults are eager and capable of driving meaningful change, yet significant barriers still stand in their way. As we head towards our 20th anniversary, our ambition has grown, giving us the confidence to bring our skills and experience in designing solutions with young people, and to leveraging our convening power to engage with leading regional players and global funders so we can add Sentebale’s voice to addressing the challenges faced by the next generation in Southern Africa."
On the trip, the group (which includes corporate foundations and philanthropists) will head to Lesotho "to witness Sentebale’s programs at work." In Lesotho, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso will meet with local leaders and youth advocates. After, they will go to Johannesburg, South Africa for working sessions with "leading Southern Africa-based business leaders, foundations and organizations already active in the youth sector." Per Sentebale, "these sessions will explore collaborative strategies to deploy expertise and innovative capital to reduce the digital divide and ensure youth access to healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities."
Earlier this week, Prince Harry spoke alongside Lesotho's Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso at an event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. "I would like to start by extending my deepest gratitude to Their Majesties for their continued friendship," Harry said. "The Lesotho royal family, as well as Lesotho itself, has been a pillar of strength for me over the last 20 years, welcoming me with open arms and such kindness."
He added, "The beautiful mountain kingdom feels like a home away from home, that friendship has only grown stronger as we've worked together to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the pursuit of people and the wider world. It all began two decades ago, when my dear friend Prince Seeiso first gave me a tour of your special country. I was struck by the strength and courage of your people amidst the immense challenges they face."
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