In the mountainous southern African nation of Lesotho, tens of thousands of young men work as shepherds and cannot attend regular school. Now, special night schools across the country are giving these young herders a second chance to gain an education. Every weekday evening, after a long day of watching their animals, herders walk down cold mountain paths to attend evening classes.
Livestock is a central part of Lesotho's economy and culture. Wool and mohair account for nearly 60% of the country's agricultural exports and support a quarter of the rural population. According to a World Bank analysis of 2018 data, nearly half of all boys in Lesotho have worked as herders. Many boys drop out of formal schooling at an early age to live in isolated mountain shelters called cattle posts for months at a time.
For 20-year-old Kabelo Mohai, who began herding animals at age nine, the night school in Semonkong has opened new possibilities. Mohai lives high in the mountains caring for 155 sheep and goats, but three years ago he joined the Good Shepherd Night School to continue his studies in Grade 7. He walks nearly two hours down the mountain to study reading and writing, hoping that education will help him join the army in the future.
Most of these night schools are run by volunteer teachers on very small budgets, offering basic lessons in reading, writing, and mathematics once the livestock are safely penned. Despite financial struggles, the schools provide essential skills and human connection for young herders who otherwise spend most of their days isolated in the mountains.