The Southern African Alliance on Youth Employment (SAAYE) Lesotho member organization, Makhala Thekiso Girls Foundation, held a mental health and wellbeing session with Sefalana Liquor on November 2, 2024.
Toxic behavior, particularly in work environments, can lead to conflict, according to Makhala Thekiso, founder and Executive Director of the Makhala Thekiso Girls Foundation.
This civic group, which empowers young girls in areas such as entrepreneurship, skill development, and mental health, among other issues, organized an event at Sefalana Liquor to discuss mental health topics.
“Since our organization focuses on mental health issues, the store’s management requested that we engage with the staff,” Thekiso said. “We tried to be sensitive and careful, as these topics can be personal, but the dialogue was fruitful.”
The Executive Director noted that the discussion also highlighted challenges for workers, especially married employees. She suggested that couple coaching could help foster healthy relationships, potentially leading to improved working conditions.
Echoing Thekiso’s sentiments, Sefalana Liquor’s Administration Manager, ‘Mantoa Sebophe, expressed her hope that such discussions would lead to better communication and understanding among staff.
“After the Foundation approached us, I thought this would be a great opportunity for staff to engage in discussions about their mental wellbeing,” Sebophe said. “As we approach the festive season, many of us are dealing with issues that impact both our health and work life.”
She also mentioned a desire for this to become an annual event, encouraging open and honest conversations among workers.
For chief cashier Ntoetse Shoaepane, the session was a chance for introspection and personal growth. “I learned the importance of self-reflection to improve my mental health,” Shoaepane shared, adding that she hopes these sessions will yield positive results.
General Assistant Khabola Mpho echoed these thoughts, highlighting the challenges workers face. “There are many difficult situations at work, and I learned the value of patience and initiating conversations with my colleagues,” Mpho noted.