Background: Lesotho Women's Institute was founded in 1961 to respond to the needs of young women school-leavers who were not equipped with the skills for income-generation or home management.  

Objectives: Its principal objective is to bring women together to learn and share knowledge. Income-generation skills taught include: sewing, knitting, pinning, weaving, carpentry, cooking, crocheting, candle and soap making, tie-dyeing, batik and precious stones polishing.  

Activities: The Institute's two main projects are the operation of pre-schools and vocational training centres. It also holds conferences to discuss topics such as human rights, rule of law, democracy, elections, HIV/AIDS, gender issues and human resource development.