Serumula Development Association (SDA) is a national non-governmental organisation (NGO) that currently operates in the Semonkong, Phamong and Botha-Bothe areas.  SDA is a service provider and business development service facilitator.  We deliver and promote cost-effective and attractive business services to the rural people, mainly to address job creation, environmental restoration and promote self-help against the dependency syndromme.

SDA advocates for employment of integrated approaches to rural development, fusing business principles with rural development initiatives in pursuit of self-reliance of rural communities. To this end we work in partnership with other development agencies and business enterprises in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural development either as clients, direct partners or associates. 

Serumula is an NGO that concentrates mainly on the resource management sector. The emphasis is on projects and processes that promise sustainability, marketability and adaptability to local conditions.

Our History

SDA was born out of the end of Helvetas Swiss Cooperation for Development's operation in Lesotho in 2002.  Nonetheless, the backbone of our organisational culture is our 25 years experience operating as Helvetas Lesotho.  This is reflected, to name a few, in our mission, services, projects and beneficiaries of which some are a direct inheritance from Helvetas Lesotho. Through the legacy of Helvetas, Serumula's light continues to shine.

'Serumula' is a Sesotho name which means a firewood with a bright flame burning at its top.  In the past Basotho used to share the firewood to light up fire in their huts; one firewood could be borrowed from hut to hut to give light to many huts in the village.  We therefore derive our name from our belief that if you, as per our motto, 'Let Your Light Shine', the light can be radiated and rippled onto others.  Embedded firmly in our belief system in the value of solidarity.