Macudvulwini Project, Swaziland

See the progress you helped make happen in your sponsored community

When the project started, 90 percent of farmers were subsistence farming and many could not provide their children with three meals a day. Dirty water was causing illnesses, and less than half of children were attending primary school.

Thanks to your support, your sponsored child and other children in the Macudvulwini community have better access to clean water and education and parents are better able to feed their children three meals a day.

Together we've achieved so much

82 percent of children now attend primary school

This is up from 46 percent in 2008, after parents learned about the importance of education and the quality of teaching and school facilities improved.

  • Nine teachers were trained in improved methods of teaching reading and writing. 175 children gained extra tuition to improve their literacy through a reading camp, which was supplied with 530 books.
  • School facilities were upgraded, including nine toilets that were built at primary schools, giving 528 children access to proper sanitation and reducing the spread of waterborne diseases.
  • Three classrooms were supplied with roofing, two primary schools received new desks and chairs, and six schools gained books that benefited 1,380 children.

3,700 people gained access to clean water

A major water project brought the community together to dig boreholes and build rainwater tanks.

  • Eight 5,000-litre water tanks were built to collect rainwater, while boreholes were dug to supply clean water to five pre-schools and three primary schools.
  • 4,078 people were trained in good hygiene and sanitation practices to prevent the spread of disease, including 693 children who learned the importance of hand-washing after going to the toilet and before eating.
  • Child health improved following a health project that encouraged women to breastfeed, attend antenatal check-ups and give birth under medical supervision. Children are being immunised and women have better access to family planning.

Over 500 farmers received livestock, tools and training

This has helped them improve their children's nutrition and earn income from raising chickens and growing vegetables.

  • 211 households are saving money by participating in 21 savings groups. Through the groups they learn vocational skills to help raise their incomes and can access small loans to improve their businesses.
  • 45 farmers received dairy cows and began producing and selling milk; 250 farmers received seeds and tools and were trained in soil conservation to increase their crops yields; and 262 farmers received fruit trees to grow in order to produce fruit to sell.
  • 53 percent of families now earn an income, compared to 18 percent in 2012.

"Our children, especially girls, now have enough time to focus on schoolwork at home since they are no longer walking long distances to fetch water. "

- Mr Mabaso, water committee member