Katleho 'Moho Association is a community-based group working in rural Lesotho formed in 2001. Registered as a non-profit association, they work to raise quality of life for local people by developing community led solutions to rural poverty and environmental degradation in the area. Project activities have been concerned with food and seed security, sanitation and small-scale sustainable tourism development. Community research undertaken by Katleho 'Moho identified a need to empower young adults. As a response, local youth were invited to join together and to agree on projects. Through this process, sustainable tourism and the environment were identified by the youth as priorities and BTCV is helping with the process of developing these.   Katleho 'Moho Associations Achievements   Since their foundation the Katleho 'Moho Association has developed a strong working structure. It has a representative membership restricted to 50 farmers and 120 youth members drawn from six village communities within the Semonkong area. They operate under the direction of an Executive Board and have 3 full-time staff members, a Director and two Community Liaison Officers.   An early success was the instalation of 40 toilet facilities in villages without any existing sanitation. In 2004 they conducted a research exercise and identified the need to empower young adults in the area. Through this process ecotourism and environment were identified by the youth as priorities. This has formed the basis of ongoing plans to improve access to the Maletsunyane Falls and the latest plans to develop a community plant nursery.   BTCV and Katleho 'Moho Association BTCV and the Katleho 'Moho Association have been working together since 2003. Initially brought together through the actions of a Skillshare Development Worker who was a veteran of BTCV projects in Japan, an innovative project was developed to integrate 'tourism' through BTCV's volunteer project model with the local planning and development process.   As the relationship has evolved, BTCV and the Katleho 'Moho Association are now working together to find funding and develop the practical means to create the planned community nursery. Integral to this is still BTCV's volunteer projects providing an opportunity for international volunteers to become directly involved in the community. Joint Achievements BTCV has run three volunteer projects in Lesotho and run two training courses in mountain trail construction and maintenance. As well as the physical work carried out by local and international volunteers on these projects, they have formed the basis for the development of an innovative consultative mechanism which has found 'tourists' feeding their views and experiences into the community planning process - through a managed process of questionnaires and workshops and directly at community and council meetings.   The practical work in Semonkong has to date involved the restoration of the footpath to Maletsunyane Waterfall, this track is used by both visitors and locals to reach the base of the spectacular falls. The pathway is dangerous in places and over use has been causing considerable soil erosion. The falls are a major tourist destination and therefore the maintenance of the track is important to ensure a safe route. Our work has also included biodiversity surveys of Maletsunyane Gorge with local volunteers. This provides a baseline for future environmental management activities as well as eco-tourism products. Through their participation in the survey local youth are developing a greater understanding and appreciation of their local environment and the need to protect this valuable resource.   In early 2008, KMA working with BTCV, were awarded funding of just under £5000 from the UK-based Rufford Small Grants Foundation to develop their Semonkong Commmunity Garden and Botanical Garden project.   The project aims to establish a community run botanical nursery and garden designed in the long-term to address fundamental issues of food security, nutrition, conservation of medicinal, rare and threatened plant species, soil degradation and local sustainable economic development.   In November 2008, on the 'Basotho Botanics' holiday, participants will work directly with KMA volunteers and local people to carry out the main nursery construction work.   Throughout, BTCV and the Katleho 'Moho Association have worked very closely with all sectors of the community as these projects have developed. The partnership has already achieved more than just the practical activities but has acted as a catalyst for local and even national action.