15 Year Old Lesotho Student Wins Business Competition With Brick Making Idea

When 15-year-old Liteboho Letlotlo told her mother that she was entering a business competition, Ntsotiseng Ramongali-Letlotlo understood that her daughter was serious about the opportunity. What she could not have predicted was that the Grade 10 learner from Qacha’s Nek High School would go on to become the national champion. Letlotlo’s success in the Spelling A Business Africa competition has highlighted the entrepreneurial potential of young people in Lesotho. Her achievement also shows how determination, family support and access to opportunities can help young learners turn ideas into practical business ventures. For her mother, the competition revealed a side of her daughter that she had never seen before.

Ramongali-Letlotlo had always known her daughter as a dedicated learner with strong academic ambitions. Letlotlo had grown up dreaming of becoming a doctor and was known in her family primarily for her love of school. Her decision to develop a business idea therefore came as a surprise to her mother, who was seeing her entrepreneurial ambitions for the first time. Despite the change in direction, Ramongali-Letlotlo quickly recognised that her daughter was deeply committed to the project. Letlotlo was not simply taking part in a competition for experience, she believed she could win and was prepared to put in the work required to achieve that goal.

Letlotlo entered the Spelling A Business Africa competition with an idea for a brick-making business. The project required her to develop and present the concept while demonstrating an understanding of how the business could operate. From the beginning, she showed her mother that she was determined to take the opportunity seriously. She repeatedly told her mother that she intended to enter the competition and win. That confidence became a driving force behind the support she received at home as the project developed.

The circumstances surrounding the project required additional commitment from both Letlotlo and her mother. As a boarding-school learner, Letlotlo normally stayed at school where learners were not permitted to use phones. During the winter break, she became a day scholar so that her mother could help her with communication, research and other aspects of the competition preparation. This arrangement gave the two an opportunity to work closely on the project. What started as a school competition soon became a shared family effort that required time, patience and considerable dedication.

Ramongali-Letlotlo would work with her daughter after returning from work each day. She listened as Letlotlo presented her business idea and helped her review the material as they prepared for the competition. Letlotlo repeatedly practised her presentation and made changes as they identified areas that needed improvement. The process gave her an opportunity to strengthen both her business idea and her confidence in presenting it. Her mother’s involvement also provided the encouragement she needed to continue working even when the preparation became difficult.

One of the biggest challenges came shortly before Letlotlo was due to return to Qacha’s Nek. After spending considerable time preparing the presentation, the pair discovered that the document containing their work was missing. They had no choice but to begin preparing the presentation again from the start. The setback came only a day before Letlotlo was expected to leave, putting significant pressure on both of them. Despite the situation, they continued working until they eventually completed the presentation at around 2 am, with Letlotlo scheduled to leave at 4 am.

The difficult night demonstrated how much effort went into preparing for the national competition. Instead of allowing the lost document to end their preparations, Letlotlo and her mother rebuilt the work and continued until it was ready. The experience also showed the level of determination behind the young learner’s business ambition. Ramongali-Letlotlo said her daughter’s drive encouraged her to invest in the project and provide the resources and support required to give it the best possible chance. Her mother had decided that the outcome would not change her commitment to supporting her daughter.

For Ramongali-Letlotlo, supporting Letlotlo was about more than winning a prize. She wanted her daughter to know that her effort mattered regardless of the final result. She took leave from work so that she could attend the national competition and be present when Letlotlo delivered her presentation. The young entrepreneur was nervous both before and after presenting, but her mother remained close by as she watched the competition unfold. Her decision to attend reflected a belief that supporting a child also means standing beside them when they face uncertainty.

Letlotlo ultimately turned her determination into an impressive result by becoming the national SABA champion. Her school, Qacha’s Nek High School, also achieved first position among high schools, while Qacha’s Nek district secured second position in the district competition. The results gave Letlotlo recognition not only for her individual business idea but also for the environment that supported her development. Her success has placed a spotlight on the potential of school learners to participate meaningfully in entrepreneurship programmes. It also shows that young people can develop practical business concepts while continuing their education.

The rewards attached to Letlotlo’s achievement provide her with an opportunity to take her brick-making business idea further. She received M50,000 for her business venture, together with mentorship designed to help prepare her for the responsibilities involved in developing the project. She also received M5,000 for winning at district level, as well as a gold medal, trophy and certificate. The financial support could give her a valuable starting point as she explores how to turn her competition idea into a viable enterprise. The mentorship will also be important as she learns about planning, financial management, production, marketing and other aspects of running a business.

Letlotlo’s story also highlights the role that entrepreneurship competitions can play in developing practical skills among young people. School learners often have ideas that extend beyond their academic work, but they may not always have the resources or guidance needed to develop those ideas. Competitions such as SABA can give learners an opportunity to test their ideas, practise presenting them and receive feedback from experienced people. They can also introduce young entrepreneurs to business concepts at an early stage of their education. In Letlotlo’s case, the competition provided a platform where her determination could be matched with financial support and mentorship.

Her journey further demonstrates the importance of family support in helping young people pursue ambitious goals. Ramongali-Letlotlo did not know whether her daughter would win when she decided to invest her time and resources into the project. She supported her because she could see how emotionally invested Letlotlo had become. That support remained in place even when the project encountered setbacks and the final result was uncertain. The mother and daughter’s experience shows how encouragement at home can help young people remain focused when they face pressure during important opportunities.

The national victory may also broaden Letlotlo’s understanding of what is possible for her future. Although she still dreams of becoming a doctor, her experience in the SABA competition has introduced her to entrepreneurship and demonstrated that she has skills beyond the classroom. Her brick-making idea could develop into a business venture with the right planning and mentorship. At the same time, the skills she has gained through the competition, including research, presentation, problem-solving and business planning, can benefit her regardless of the career path she eventually chooses. Her achievement has therefore created an important learning experience that extends beyond the prize money.

Liteboho Letlotlo’s success is a powerful example of what determination and support can achieve when a young person is given an opportunity to develop an idea. From repeatedly practising her presentation to rebuilding her work after losing the original document, she showed a willingness to keep going when circumstances became difficult. Her mother’s decision to stand behind her provided the practical and emotional support that helped her reach the national competition and succeed. With M50,000 in business funding, additional mentorship and recognition at both district and national level, Letlotlo now has an opportunity to take her entrepreneurial journey further. Her story offers encouragement to other young people in Lesotho who have business ideas of their own and reminds families that supporting a child’s ambition can open doors that may shape their future.