[imagesource: Instagram/Princess Senate Seeiso]

The Duke of Sussex has just touched down for a week-long stay in Lesotho and South Africa, having just flown from the UK on September 30th after attending the WellChild Awards in London.

Prince Harry arrived in the mountain kingdom earlier yesterday, where he is being hosted by King Letsie III and Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso, along with his old friend Prince Seeiso.

On his first visit to the landlocked nation since 2018, he will showcase the work of Sentebale, the charity that he co-founded with Prince Seeiso in 2006, in memory of their mothers, reports Hello! Mag.

Princess Senate Seeiso posted a photo of herself and Harry on her Instagram Story, writing that she “Had the pleasure of hosting the Duke of Sussex today for lunch.”

Image: Instagram/Princess Senate Seeiso

She followed that post with a video of her father and Harry talking passionately around a bonfire:

Image: Instagram/Princess Senate Seeiso

After first visiting Lesotho in 2004 during his gap year, Prince Harry co-founded the charity Sentebale, which means “forget-me-not” in Sesotho, with Prince Seeiso in 2006 to help children and young people affected by poverty, inequality and HIV/AIDS in both Lesotho and Botswana.

The two far-flung friends are set to meet with local Sentebale leaders to showcase programs to philanthropists and corporate foundations. This will be followed by working sessions in Johannesburg with leading Southern Africa-based business leaders, foundations and organisations active in the youth sector, according to a release.

“Through its work in Lesotho and Botswana, Sentebale has developed a profound understanding of local youth — their passions, their concerns and their extraordinary creativity,” Prince Harry said in a statement.

“These young adults are eager and capable of driving meaningful change, yet significant barriers still stand in their way. As we head towards our 20th anniversary, our ambition has grown, giving us the confidence to bring our skills and experience in designing solutions with young people, and to leveraging our convening power to engage with leading regional players and global funders so we can add Sentebale’s voice to addressing the challenges faced by the next generation in Southern Africa.”

Africa has the largest and fastest-growing youth population, and by 2050 nearly 40% of the world’s youth will reside on the continent, with South Africa home to a significant portion, according to Dr Sophie Chandauka MBE, Sentebale board chair:

“Over 50% of these young people are at risk of remaining economically vulnerable without urgent investment in digital skills, education and job creation,” she said in a statement.

“The Duke’s return to Southern Africa, alongside our new American friends, marks a milestone as we collaborate with world-class organizations and local leadership to engage this critical youth cohort.”

Together, they aim to accelerate digital and economic inclusion, addressing the low levels of access and literacy, which are crucial for young people’s participation in the global economy and for achieving Sentebale’s goals in health, wealth creation and climate resilience.

In Johannesburg, Harry will sit on a panel called ‘Potential is Waiting: The Johannesburg Edition,’ following the Miami version of the same gathering this past April.

Image: The Office Of Prince Harry & Meghan, The Duke & Duchess Of Sussex

Since reaching the milestone age of 40 on September 15, Harry has been at work on three continents — and, as he returns to Africa, he is returning to a place he has referred to as his “second home.”

At the April panel discussion in Miami, he said, “Africa’s in my heart, and Africa’s in my soul. I first went there when I was 12, 13 years old, and after so many years, I wanted to give back to it because it had given me so much. The vast open space, the cultures, the community, the people, the wildlife, just the freedom was a huge piece of why I loved Africa so much.”

You and every other British royal. Prince Seeiso said it would fill the community with “joy” to welcome back Mohale – Harry’s affectionate Sesotho royal name which means “warrior”.

While in the UK, Prince Harry did not see his father, King Charles, or his brother, Prince William.

[source:hellomagazine]