In March 2019, Phumelela Project facilitated two awareness sessions on Gender Based Violence and Drug and Substance abuse. We were invited to Hillside Primary School in Manzini, where our trained child counsellor, Nomthandazo Dlamini, facilitated the programme to 500 Grade 3 to Grade 7 pupils. We also worked with the Domestic Violence Unit from the Royal eSwatini Police Service, who educated the children about Human Trafficking and dangers and risks involved. These joint initiatives has enabled us to develop a relationship with the police, and now we receive referrals from them.

Nomthandazo also delivered a talk to teachers about Drug and Substance Abuse at Mafutseni Community School. Phumelela will continue to work with the schools mentioned, and provide counselling sessions to pupils who are already using drugs, or are at risk of using drugs in the future.

In April 2019, we joined a cluster of civil society organisations engaged in youth and children's rights organised by COSPE Swaziland. COSPE is a private lay and non-profit organisation founded in 1983 to ensure fair and sustainable development, human rights, peace and justice.

The day focussed on ensuring that all children are registered at birth:
A child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and the right to be a full citizen. The registration of birth, guarantee the access to essential services, such as health, education and social welfare. 

Other organisations we are working with on this are: Luvatsi, Swaziland National Youth Network, SOS Children Villages Eswatini, Flas Eswatini, Swaziland National Union of Students, Swaziland National Association of Teachers and FSEJ. 

The EU Ambassador Esmeralda Hernandez also joined the launch. 

Phumelela Project helps many young people in Eswatini, including survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. 

This is the story of a 22-year-old woman the Phumelela Project has recently been working with. Her story begins in 2018 when she was raped by her abusive father in her own home. She immediately reported the case to the police. After doing so she was disowned by the rest of her family and forced out of her family home.

Distraught and now homeless, she went to stay with an Aunt & Uncle who secretly took her in, not wanting the other family members to know they were sheltering her. After a few days the Uncle tried to forcibly have sex with her, so once again she was left with no choice but to flee.

A complete stranger offered her shelter, and gave her the opportunity to work in a bar she owned. However, after a short time, the owner of the bar tried to make her sleep with the men who frequented the establishment. This is when Phumelela Project heard about her case and intervened. 

The young woman received counselling from the Phumelela Project, but it was clear that she was in dire need of escaping her desperate living conditions. After confessing that she felt suicidal, the project found the young woman a safe house to live in. She received extensive counselling and once more stable, the project found her work in a restaurant. This gave her economic independence and some stability after an incredibly traumatic period. 

She is currently doing well and has found herself a home to live in, whilst still working through the trauma of her recent experiences.

This was a desperate case, where Phumelela Project was able to make an intervention and quite possible save a young person's life. Through compassion and care she is now applying for college and will also be helping other victims of gender based violence with the Phumelela Project. 

This is just one of the many cases the project deals with on a daily basis. f you can, please donate so we can continue our vital work.