Dolen Cymru celebrates 40th Anniversary of Wales Lesotho Link, launched #OnThisDay #MoshoeshoeDay 1985.

By Sharon Flint, with heritage materials by Craig Owen and Khai nor Shahmir

Dolen Cymru, the Wales Lesotho Link, was founded #OnThisDay over 11th-12th March 1985, with events at the Welsh Office and Temple of Peace attended by then High Commissioner O.T. Sefako.

This year has not only marked Dolen’s 40th Anniversary, but the 200th Anniversary (or Bicentennial) of the Basotho nation itself, founded by their first King, Moshoeshoe I in 1824. The 11th March every year is a national holiday known internationally as Moshoeshoe Day.

Newspaper clipping from Dolen Cymru launch in 1985

The world’s first ‘nation to nation’ twinning link emerged from several years of warm community relationships developed through charities such as UNICEF, following the 1979 ‘International Year of the Child’ campaign.

Dolen Cymru ‘early years’ timeline on Knightlab

Earlier this week, Dolen Cymru Lesotho and the Welsh Rugby Union welcomed HRH Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to the Principality Stadium, as part of his visit to Cardiff on Thursday 6th of March. Prince Seeiso was taken on a tour of home of Welsh rugby and met with partners, supporters and volunteers of Dolen Cymru Lesotho including:

Lesotho Rugby Academy
St Cenydd Community School
Mencap Cymru
Cardiff Youth Services
British Council International Education Programme
Clwb Rugbi
Theo Cabango, Wing, Cardiff Rugby
Hub Cymru Africa

*HRH Prince Seeiso of Lesotho with Colen Cymru Co-Directors Sharon Flint and Cath Moulogo at the Principality Stadium*

At the Senedd Plenary on 5th March 2025, ahead of Dolen’s 40th Anniversary, Jane Dodds MS thanked Dolen Cymru Lesotho :

“I want to take this time to celebrate the wonderful work of Dolen Cymru, who are celebrating their fortieth anniversary this year. This organisation does incredible work in connecting communities in Lesotho and Wales. They’ve worked really hard to facilitate sustainable projects, partnerships and relationships that have a positive impact on communities in both Lesotho and in Wales. The Rt Hon Mohlabe Tsekoa wonderfully summarised the ties between the two countries when he said that:

‘The link is a source of hope to the people of Lesotho. It is one of the greatest developments that has come to us on a human level…It is an unprecedented example of how meaningful links can be…given our location and smallness, there is a need to hold another hand, however far away, to help make us feel we are truly part of the world, part of the international community’.

This is a wonderful example of the strong ties that Wales can develop with other countries around the world. These days, when international relations are so fragile, organisations like these are invaluable to us here in Wales. Thank you so much to Dolen Cymru. Diolch.”

Watch her speech here Senedd.tv – Plenary

“Rwyf am gymryd yr amser hwn i ddathlu gwaith gwych Dolen Cymru, sy’n dathlu eu pen-blwydd yn ddeugain eleni. Mae’r sefydliad hwn yn gwneud gwaith anhygoel yn cysylltu cymunedau yn Lesotho a Chymru. Maent wedi gweithio’n galed iawn i hwyluso prosiectau, partneriaethau a pherthnasoedd cynaliadwy sy’n cael effaith gadarnhaol ar gymunedau yn Lesotho ac yng Nghymru. Gwnaeth y Gwir Anrhydeddus Mohlabe Tsekoa grynhoi y cysylltiadau rhwng y ddwy wlad yn rhyfeddol pan ddywedodd:

Mae’r cysylltiad yn ffynhonnell gobaith i bobl Lesotho. Mae’n un o’r datblygiadau mwyaf sydd wedi dod i’n rhan ar lefel ddynol…mae’n enghraifft ddigynsail o ba mor ystyrlon y gall cysylltiadau fod…o ystyried ein lleoliad a’n bychander, mae angen dal llaw arall, waeth pa mor bell i ffwrdd, i helpu i wneud i ni deimlo ein bod yn wirioneddol yn rhan o’r byd, yn rhan o’r gymuned ryngwladol’.

Dyma enghraifft wych o’r cysylltiadau cryf y gall Cymru eu datblygu â gwledydd eraill ledled y byd.Y dyddiau hyn, pan fo cysylltiadau rhyngwladol mor fregus, mae sefydliadau fel y rhain yn amhrisiadwy i ni yma yng Nghymru. Diolch yn fawr iawn i Dolen Cymru. Diolch.”