A big advantage that Lesotho has over other countries in southern Africa is the prevalence (commonness) of water. Even though we've been in a drought (a period with less rain than normal) for the past few years, the mountain springs are plentiful and clean compared to other places. I still filter my water before I drink it, just in case, but Basotho people rarely get sick from the water here!
Water also plays a big role in Lesotho's economy (how the country makes money). In the 1990s, Lesotho and South Africa made an agreement to build two huge dams in Lesotho that are connected to a river in South Africa by miles and miles of underground tunnels. These structures allow the Lesotho government to sell water to South Africa to make money, as well as generate hydroelectric power for nearby Lesotho villages! (Hydroelectric power is electricity made using moving water.) I learned about this project during my training, and I thought it was super cool. However, building the dams and creating reservoirs (artificial lakes) also had negative impacts on the local people and environment. For example, many people had to leave their homes and farms, which were then flooded. The flooding also harmed some plants and animals. With reduced food sources, people faced challenges in their new homes. So, as you can see, big building projects like these can impact people and their environments in complicated ways!
