The Fourth Plate

By Katleho Peter Kane

I was born and raised in Hamamathe Cana, a small rural community in Berea, Lesotho. Growing up, I saw firsthand how communities like mine were slowly but surely being left behind in the shift toward sustainable living.

While global conversations about climate change were gaining traction, we were still dependent on firewood, charcoal, and other unsustainable practices. The forest cover around us was shrinking year by year. We were not ignorant—we simply lacked access, knowledge, and support.

My turning point came when I pursued my Diploma in Education (Mathematics and Chemistry) at Lesotho College of Education. Learning the science behind renewable energy, environmental degradation, and sustainable agriculture sparked a deep sense of responsibility in me.

I realized I could combine my knowledge as a teacher with a mission that addressed both the environmental and energy challenges in my community. That’s when my journey as a green ambassador truly began.

In 2024, I joined a local biogas company, Kaeane Renewable Energy Developers, as a sales representative and later became a certified biogas facilitator. Through this role, I trained sales agents on how biogas systems work, how to market them, and how to educate the public on their benefits.

Our primary product was the Fixed Dome Biogas Plant—a solution that turns animal waste into clean cooking gas and fertilizer.

It was not easy. The major barriers I encountered were financial constraints among rural families, misinformation about biogas, and a cultural hesitation to adopt waste-based solutions. People questioned how human or animal waste could be transformed into something clean and useful. But I kept engaging—door by door, school by school, farmer by farmer—planting the seed of understanding and hope.

Later that year, I was selected to join the Green Ambassadorship Program (GAP) 3.0, a life-changing experience hosted by the SGE Initiative. GAP taught me how to frame my impact story, measure it, and build partnerships.

It also helped me draft the blueprint for something bigger: The Biogas Training and Demonstration Center. This center will be a space to educate youth, farmers, and communities on biogas construction, usage, and maintenance. It will also serve as a hub for innovation in free-range poultry and organic gardening—intersecting food security, clean energy, and climate resilience.

One of my proudest moments came during our final pitch week at GAP 3.0. I shared my story, presented my project plan, and was honored to be selected among the top impactful changemakers. I felt seen—not just for what I had done, but for what I envisioned for my people.

What has this journey taught me?
That sustainability isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity, especially in African rural communities.
That youth engagement is key. I started a WhatsApp group with peers and mentors to share ideas, opportunities, and support around clean energy and environmental justice.
That collaboration unlocks greater impact. I now hope to partner with organizations like the National University of Lesotho, UNESCO, and the Ministry of Energy to bring biogas education into schools and rural households.

My next steps include acquiring land for the training center, sourcing funding for more demonstration units, and producing local video content in Sesotho that explains the value of renewable energy. I am also starting a free-range chicken initiative that will integrate with the biogas plant—reducing waste and increasing income for local farmers.

To anyone reading this who doubts the impact one person can make, let me remind you: change starts small. It starts with one conversation, one prototype, one classroom, one bold decision to say, “We deserve better, and we’re willing to build it.”

I’m incredibly thankful to the GAP program, my mentors, and the supportive community of learners and green warriors around Africa who inspire me daily. This story is not the end—it is only the beginning of a much larger transformation rooted in action, hope, and grassroots solutions.

Let’s keep moving forward—together.