In the Kingdom of Eswatini, one out of every five children does not complete high school. Challenges begin at the primary school level even though education at this level is free except for ‘top up’ fees, school uniforms and bus fare for many to attend school. For orphans and vulnerable children for whom a daily meal is a struggle, these minor expenses pose a major barrier to education.
Today, another child is born. The offspring of a mother who just had her first menstrual period. I have known her for eight years and discovered that she may have been trafficking for at least half of her young life. Whenever I visited Eswatini, when she was around seven years old and still in Primary school, she would come along with her sister and they would sleep on the empty bed in my hotel room or on blankets on the floor. They would lie at the foot of my bed while I tried to compress half a decade of mothering into a few hours.
In the wake of the Covid pandemic, Eswatini (formerly, Swaziland) has been staggering beneath double blows. Fifteen years ago when SOHO began as a ministry to a staggering population of orphans in the small kingdom, one third of the country was affected by HIV/AIDS and until two years ago, the country had the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the world. Today, with a prevalence rate of 26%, the country with a population of 1.2 million still struggles to meet the needs of 120,000 plus orphans and vulnerable children.
The gift of Hope is like a breath of life. After 15 years of serving orphans and vulnerable children in Eswatini, SOHO seeks to expand its reach to address the growing needs intensified by Covid 19 and social unrest in the small Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly, Swaziland). The resources needed to heal, educate, feed and nurture children come from compassionate hearts that give funds to grow Hope.
Artists from three continents have come together as Friends of SOHO to acknowledge this important milestone and to help us generate the resources to meet the greater needs that confront us. In this Newsletter, we want to share stories of where HOPE saved lives and to share with you an Evening Of HOPE with SOHO and Friends that will be truly memorable.
During this season of celebration and thanksgiving, we pause to thank YOU, our supporters who have given of your resources to help the children we serve. Child-headed households are living situations where a child is the decision-maker and where there is no identifiable extended family to take care of them. That is our target population along with vulnerable children who may be at risk although they may have a caregiver.
Swaziland is experiencing political unrest. South Africa, which surrounds this tiny kingdom, is experiencing politically driven violence, looting and burning. The crisis that is resulting for orphans and vulnerable children will only intensify. Excessive food and fuel shortage, inconsistency in education, physical and emotional trauma for many is the result. SOHO is collaborating with academic and business partners to address three critical issues.
In Eswatini, there are over 100,000 orphaned and vulnerable children in a population of just over one million, with an estimated 10,000 child headed households. These children are the future. Our vision is to fill their future with hope.
In this issue you’ll read about the success of our virtual conference and the impact it’s made. Clicking below to open.
It is difficult for us in our homes here to imagine what life might be like for others. We think of issues like homelessness and our minds go to shelters, but what of women and children who have no access to shelters? We think of the impact of COVID19 restrictions, but what about children who depend on school for meals as well as education and now have nowhere to turn? May this touch your heart and encourage you to partner with us in changing the future for these children.
It is difficult for us in our homes here to imagine what life might be like for others. We think of issues like homelessness and our minds go to shelters, but what of women and children who have no access to shelters? We think of the impact of COVID19 restrictions, but what about children who depend on school for meals as well as education and now have nowhere to turn? May this touch your heart and encourage you to partner with us in changing the future for these children.
