Meet Retsepile (Rets) Sello, a visionary Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni who graduated with a degree in Mining Engineering in 2018. Rets is the Director of Newtoro Books, a non-profit organization she founded in 2020 to promote lifelong learning in Lesotho.
Journey After Graduation
Since graduating, Rets has dedicated her efforts to community service and education. Starting with a modest collection of 60 books from her personal library, she established a non-profit mobile library. The initiative has grown into a nationally recognized program with over 4,000 books and a dedicated team of three full-time staff. Newtoro Books delivers a minimum of 30 books weekly to all 10 districts in Lesotho, reaching communities that would otherwise lack access to literature.
Impact and Achievements
Newtoro Books has made a significant impact on education in Lesotho. It has made over 5,000 book deliveries to various communities, providing essential resources for learning and personal development. Newtoro hosts career events and educational competitions to support formal primary and high school education. A notable event was hosting the Vice Chancellor of the National University of Lesotho to inspire local youth and emphasize the importance of education. Additionally, she has partnered with Books4Lesotho, an Australian NGO, to source books, greatly enhancing Newtoro’s reach and effectiveness.
Youth Empowerment
Addressing youth unemployment is a pressing issue in Lesotho. Rets has tackled this challenge by offering short-term internships to young graduates, helping them acquire work skills and build experience. To date, 16 youth have completed this program and have gone on to pursue better opportunities. Newtoro also prioritizes business books in its collection, promoting small business development as a viable solution for graduates seeking jobs in their chosen fields.
Future Goals
Rets aims to continue empowering communities through education and support more graduates during their unemployment stages by providing practical training and work experiences. Her vision for Newtoro Books is to expand its reach and impact, ensuring that more people have access to the resources they need for lifelong learning.
Key Takeaways for Current Mastercard Foundation Program Scholars and Alumni:
1. Patience: “Things take time. It is very important to be patient as your career starts to take shape. It might take you longer than you thought to get where you intend to go.”
2. Collaboration: “Lean into collaborations. Working with other people who have similar goals can accelerate your progress.” Stay tuned for more impact stories from our alumni and the incredible work they are doing around the world.
