This organization designs and manages innovative learning environments for young men and women in Lesotho that develop engineering skills, business acumen, manual capabilities, applied sciences, systems thinking, and leadership abilities to address career and business development needs. The school pursues financial self-sustainability through self-reliance and commercial activity while employing experiential learning, permaculture, sustainable development, earth systems science, and renewable energy strategies. Its primary fields of operation include education, self-reliance, research and development, extension, and business enterprise.
Project story
Operations began in January 1993 on barren land with support from UNICEF and the local Roman Catholic Mission which partitioned 4 ha for the use of the school. The initiative addresses several thorny and interdependent development problems, including: educational innovation, landscape regeneration, water resources improvement, financial independence, adoption of renewable energy platforms, appropriate technology, and design of the built environment for sustainability. Complex systems are key drivers of wealth, value and order creation. Lesotho suffers from moderate to severe land degradation and high levels of youth unemployment and the school promotes a rational and cohesive transition pathway. Its scope is particularly focused on out of work youth and for those unable to complete formal education. BBCDC devised a program of practical education and skills required for rural and urban development and fostering of commercial enterprise on a decentralized basis. The two-year residential course is open to young Basotho men and women. Education is “hands-on” with focus on self- reliance and income generation.
Project updates
Team
Youth enterprise and landscape restoration in Lesotho
This organization designs and manages innovative learning environments for young men and women in Lesotho that develop engineering skills, business acumen, manual capabilities, applied sciences, systems thinking, and leadership abilities to address career and business development needs. The school pursues financial self-sustainability through self-reliance and commercial activity while employing experiential learning, permaculture, sustainable development, earth systems science, and renewable energy strategies. Its primary fields of operation include education, self-reliance, research and development, extension, and business enterprise.
Project story
Operations began in January 1993 on barren land with support from UNICEF and the local Roman Catholic Mission which partitioned 4 ha for the use of the school. The initiative addresses several thorny and interdependent development problems, including: educational innovation, landscape regeneration, water resources improvement, financial independence, adoption of renewable energy platforms, appropriate technology, and design of the built environment for sustainability. Complex systems are key drivers of wealth, value and order creation. Lesotho suffers from moderate to severe land degradation and high levels of youth unemployment and the school promotes a rational and cohesive transition pathway. Its scope is particularly focused on out of work youth and for those unable to complete formal education. BBCDC devised a program of practical education and skills required for rural and urban development and fostering of commercial enterprise on a decentralized basis. The two-year residential course is open to young Basotho men and women. Education is “hands-on” with focus on self- reliance and income generation.
Project updates
Team
Location
Lesotho