Eswatini
PFLF is currently coordinating small-scale funding for meaningful interventions by existing development partners in-country. 2021 funding aimed to have big impact for short-term interventions.
2021 was an unstable year in Eswatini, with dual impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, and intense pro-democracy protests. Violence was widespread; communication was restricted, and many households and businesses suffered intense damages.
In response, PFLF funded 3 not-for-profit entities that were tackling immediate challenges:
BoMake- Emergency Food Relief and Sanitation Support for Girls/Women
Bomake (https://bomake.wordpress.com/) is a local NGO that supports the families of craft artisans working with Gone Rural, a commercial craft enterprise that focuses on women, based in the Malkerns region.
Grant funding supplied 90 families in a riot-intensive area with emergency food relief to last ~2 months; this served ~ 275 people and included rice, maize meal, soup, sugar, cooking oil, beans, soap. Grant funding also enabled the development of washable sanitary pad kits, distributed to 200 vulnerable women and girls in 5 communities. This improved dignity and basic human rights, during a time with intense competing priorities for income. Kits included liners, shields, soap, underwear, a washcloth, a Ziplock and drawstring bag. 20 women also earned short-term income by sewing the kits.
Photo: Food distribution
Photo: women sewing sanitary pad kits for distribution. This was done in collaboration with Days for Girls, who provided menstrual health education.
Nhloso Likusasa Le’lichakazile
(NLL, https://www.likusasa.org/) is a local NGO that helps young adults with their 1st career steps, aiming for sustainable interventions to improve life opportunities. Grant funding enabled 72 young adults to access information and communicate during a volatile political period (middle/end 2021). Workshops included detailed debate about Covid-19 facts/myths, gender equality/violence, and the political situation/personal responsibility for actions. Workshops were successfully held over whats app, resulting in increased critical thinking and more informed actions.
The Donate Bread Campaign
(https://www.facebook.com/donatebread/) is a grassroots organization helping people living in extreme poverty with immediate needs (food, shoes, shelter, etc). Grant funding allowed the Campaign to purchase a small, mobile kitchen to cook and serve meals from, shown here.
Photo: The Donate Bread Campaign’s new mobile kitchen enables volunteers to provide meals for more people in need