Learn sustainable arts and crafts using Lesotho's natural resources. Our school trains in grass weaving, upcycles waste, and incubates creative enterprises. Unlock economic opportunities through heritage.

ABOUT

The School of Sustainable Arts and Crafts grew out of years of research on basketry techniques using locally available grasses and reeds. Founded in 2014 as the Arts and Crafts Innovation Hub, we incubate and accelerate projects that create sustainable products from renewable natural resources.

Our enterprises like Reed Basketry and Arundo Industries have trained over 150 students in grass weaving using resources like mosea and corn husks. We turn waste like wood pallets into art. Our creations have been exhibited locally and abroad.

By building skills and industries around Lesotho's unique craft heritage, we empower communities, preserve tradition, and generate income. Our mission is an artistic revolution through sustainability.

TRAINING

Our hands-on programs cover:

Grass weaving
Upcycling and waste valorization
Craft product design
Craft enterprise management

Get in touch to learn more about our courses! We offer customized training for groups and institutions.

Technical Skills Training in Sustainable Grass Weaving lecture at Lesotho Agricultural College for third year students studying Diploma in Home Economics/Consumer Sciences

Technical Skills Training in Sustainable Grass Weaving lecture at Lesotho Agricultural College for second year students studying Diploma in Home Economics/Consumer Sciences

Design Thinking for Entrepreneurial Promotion program for students studying Certificate in General Agriculture, Certificate in Home Economics, and Certificate in Carpentry at Mahlaseli Agricultural and Vocational Institute of Excellence, Thaba-Bosiu, Maseru

A group of individuals attending Technical Skills Training in Sustainable Grass Weaving Short Course, Maseru

FOUNDER

Rethabile Lesenyeho

I am a sustainable arts and crafts enthusiasts with research interests in the field of basketry specialty in grass weaving (mosea, molala-hlolo, leloli, letsiri and others), reed weaved pallet work, willow weaving, corn husk weaving, pine needle weaving. I have a business working on producing household artefacts of different uses from locally available renewable resources and offering Technical Skills Trainings in Sustainable Grass Weaving for individuals and/or groups. I hold Bachelor of Science in Chemical Technology from the National University of Lesotho 2013, Certificate of Health and Safety from Montech Institute (then Health and Safety Training Centre) 2013, Certificate in Student Training in Entrepreneurial Promotion from Leuphana University of Lunerberg 2016 and two Certificates awarded for Research Assistantship at The National University of Lesotho Innovation Hub (then Technology Incubation Group) 2013. I started my Masters of Science in Sustainable Energy at Energy Research Centre the National University of Lesotho 2018, took courses for the first year of study and only left with the thesis part unfortunately due to finances I had to withdraw from the program. My research interests in the field of renewable energy are socio-economic sustainable development of off-grid and hybrid energy systems involving sustainable development, green chemistry, sustainable construction, solar Photo Voltaic energy, thermal energy, bioenergy, wind energy and hydro energy solutions for communities in Lesotho. I applied for reinstatement into the MSc in Sustainable Energy for the 2023/2024 academic year and I am awaiting the Departmental response. In 2018, I was crowned Pecha Kucha (PK) Ambassador Lesotho and officially licensed to host PK Night Maseru entrepreneurial events by PK Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. I have also studied Certificate in Entrepreneurship in a block release mode at Ba Isago University Gaborone Campus, Botswana in 2018. I have just completed my National Craft Certificate in Joinery and Carpentry at Lerotholi Polytechnic awaiting results. I have also worked as a Laboratory Demonstrator in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology for two years. For the past three years I have offered Technical Skills Training in Sustainable Grass Weaving to a total of one hundred and fifty two (152) documented students for; (a) Diploma in Consumer Sciences seventy two (72) students at Lesotho Agricultural College, (b) Certificate in Grass Weaving, Detergent and Food Production fifty four (54) students at College of Cooperative Entrepreneurship and Business Studies, (c) Certificate in Home Economics, Certificate in General Agriculture and Certificate twenty two (22) students in Carpentry at Mahlaseli Agricultural and Vocational Institute of Excellence, (d) Certificate in Carpentry four (4) students at Letlotlo Vocational Training.

PRODUCTS

Sustainable outdoor home gazebo made from waste pallets, gum poles, thatch roofing, reed and mohlomo grass weaved ceiling, reed weaved couch set with coffee table, television stand, and magazine side baskets designed and constructed by Lesenyeho Rethabile as a project on “Use of Sustainable building raw materials for Sustainable Construction, and African Indigenous Construction for Low Cost Housing at Boseja, Mochudi, Kgatleng District, Botswana, 2017” supervised by Phineas Nyirongo Entrepreneurship Lecturer at BaIsago University Botswana.

Reed weaved cubicle at Moshoeshoe 1 International Airport designed and constructed by Motete Taeli of Flames Curio Shop one of the Technical Skills Training in Sustainable Basketry trainees and Mosea grass baskets being displayed for sale in the cubicle are made by another student, Utloanang Nkieane who studied Technical Skills Training in Sustainable Grass Weaving for two years and became the Assistant Sustainable Grass Weaving Lecturer at Lesotho Agricultural College and College of Cooperative Entrepreneurship and Business Studies.