In Eswatini, Bantwana provides technical assistance and delivers programming for HIV-impacted vulnerable children, youth and caregivers. We also partner with government to strengthen social welfare, health and education systems to respond to and mitigate the impacts of HIV, gender-based violence, and poverty.
Since 2008, Bantwana Eswatini has been a driving force in programmatic innovation, delivering integrated socio-economic, health/HIV, social and child protection, and education interventions with local partners. Rooted in scalable community-based approaches, we are a direct implementer of programming, as well as a key technical partner collaborating with government counterparts for sustainable development at-scale.
Sakhile Vilakati, age 21, lives in Siphofaneni in the Lubombo region of Eswatini. Since both of her parents passed away nine years ago, she has been living with her guardian, who is unemployed. After taking her Junior Certificate exams and passing only 3 of the 5 required subjects, Sakhile was not eligible to transition to high school, nor did she have the financial means to pay for her school fees. She dropped out of school in 2015 and then had a child in 2017.
When Sakhile’s Community Councilor informed her about the DREAMS Innovation Challenge, she saw the project as an opportunity to fulfill her dream of returning to school.
To learn more about Sakhile’s story, read our blog.
Without education, one’s life is doomed and more girls in the community want to be a part of the project. I am grateful, as this Dreams Innovation Challenge (DREAMS IC) project has fulfilled my dream of continuing with my studies.
