Milco Supplier Creates Creative Puzzles For Kids
'Matsikoane L. Mabaleha, who hails from Qacha’s Nek, has transformed her passion for children's development into a unique and innovative venture with her puzzle product, "Ka U Lotha?".
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Find a variety of products at MILCO, a chain store that sells only made in Lesotho products. MILCO was established by the NUL Innovation Hub. Visit us at Sefika Complex, Maseru, and explore our latest catalogue https://www.milco.co.ls/products.
Also, Join our WhatsApp group for regular updates on MILCO products and prices: [WhatsApp Group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/JdmvNiPP2bG4YUVUMwTOxj).
During the lengthy COVID-19 lockdowns, her family opted for board games for entertainment.
In her observation, the products that are available in the market, in the form of children’s games/ puzzles hardly talk about Lesotho.
Nearly everything is about other worlds. As a result, these educational tools don’t seem to enhance knowledge about Lesotho and Basotho culture, which is her concern.
Secondly, Basotho children are slowly getting detached from their own culture of evening folk tales, riddles, educational cultural songs etc.
She experienced a problem when her nieces who were under four years old, came to stay with her family. The board games and puzzles that were available were too complicated for the young children.
Her imagination was fueled by this experience, and she used cardboard and old magazines to make playing cards with Lesotho domestic animals themes.
This first initiative offered entertainment and education for her nieces, setting up the foundation for what would become of "Ka U Lotha?".
As she explored ways to make learning fun and accessible, she began designing board games with local content that were both educational and entertaining.
“I felt so humbled, excited but also challenged to continue producing more puzzles. That is, it gets me thinking about what’s next?” She says.
In an industry filled with foreign games, the product stands out for its special blend of education and fun mixed with native content.
The puzzles mix word searches and pictures, making them stimulating and instructive for kids.
They help develop concentration, patience, problem-solving, and reasoning abilities.
They also promote social interaction, encouraging children to share, take turns, and cope with losing in a healthy way. Most importantly, children get to enhance their knowledge about the country, Lesotho.
Parents and teachers who have used these products praise their ability to keep children engaged while teaching them essential skills.
The games provide kids with a chance to have fun away from screens while learning about the geography of Lesotho as well as Basotho culture, customs, and good habits.
Today, her business includes a range of products, from jigsaw puzzles and board games to playing cards and puzzle booklets.
She believes that her products will help in the development of social and life skills in kids, which are vital in school and in life in general.
Her background in Social Work and her love for children's development guided her in creating products that not only entertaining but also teaching valuable life skills and promote Lesotho's culture.
“The goal for the business is to generate income, of course, but also to create jobs. As for the target market, these products are intended to provide an easy yet challenging alternative which also instills acceptable life skills, while at the same time educate children about Lesotho.” She says.
She now serves as the Principal Coach for Manners4minors Lesotho, where she focuses on nurturing emotional intelligence and life skills in young children.
She intends to make her products' packaging, especially that of the jigsaw puzzles to be more appealing and reliable.
She is dedicated to acquiring graphic design and business management skills to help her grow and improve her ability to manage and grow her business.
______________
Find a variety of products at MILCO, a chain store that sells only made in Lesotho products. MILCO was established by the NUL Innovation Hub. Visit us at Sefika Complex, Maseru, and explore our latest catalogue https://www.milco.co.ls/products.
Also, Join our WhatsApp group for regular updates on MILCO products and prices: [WhatsApp Group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/JdmvNiPP2bG4YUVUMwTOxj).