Growing up, the founder of the Audacious Leaders Network (ALN), Mantsebeng experienced a lot scrutiny and shame when she underwent puberty early at 11 years of age. A lot of stigma existed around having menstrual periods, and this further increased her shame. Like most of her peers growing up having to take care of the household, she also realised the stark contrast in how girls were treated as opposed to boys, and how overall males’ input in society were valued above the female’s.

This inequality transcended to when she became a youth and was affected by the youth unemployment and realised the impacts of that on her peers; alcohol and drug abuse, mental health, intergenerational sex and later HIV prevalence in adolescent girls and young women. What started as her advocacy writing in newspapers, blogs and different avenues, raising awareness about these issues that affected her, because a bigger movement. After winning the World Bank Blog4Dev and African Union Youth Envoy competition, Sauti, she began a larger movement by ensuring that youths voices were heard by launch a writing competition of her own for Basotho youths on issues that affect them, challenging their innovative solutions to address such issues as Poverty, Gender Based Violence and Poverty. Through words on paper, she gave her peers the platform to speak, to influence, and to shape the narratives that governed their lives. She began seeking out others who shared her vision—those who yearned for a world of equality and justice, who believed in the power of youth to transform society. One by one, they came together, united by purpose and hope. From their collective aspirations, the Audacious Leaders Network was born