In 2006 Cynthia Prime and 17 volunteers from various parts of the United States, Australia, and New Zealand journeyed to Swaziland, Africa (now Eswatini) on a week-long mission trip. The experience was life changing. They encountered thousands of children, many lacking even the basic needs of food, clean water, and safe shelter. On that first mission, the volunteer team distributed 17,250 meals and snacks, clothing for 11,700 orphans and children in need, and performed roughly 2,500 health examinations and treatments.

What began as a short-term humanitarian effort became a life-long commitment. Cynthia Prime and her ministry partner Linda Schultz co-founded the faith-based nonprofit organization that would become Saving Orphans through Healthcare and Outreach (SOHO). The organization’s goal is to improve the quality of the children’s lives through programs addressing their health, food security, education, spiritual nurture, and their capacity to become self-sustaining, contributing members of their community and country.

Today SOHO operates two multi-purpose centers in Nhlambeni and Marekamp that operate daily feeding programs, along with education, outreach and enrichment activities. In addition, SOHO has acquired a 1065-acre mountaintop property in the Shiselweni region where it is developing Lentsaba Children’s Village & Farm. Lentsaba will eventually provide homes for up to 250 orphans and vulnerable children.