Gender Equality Eswatini Project #47936

Swazi SHEROES

by SOTENI International

Project Report | Apr 30, 2021
Swazi SHEROES - One-Year Anniversary Report

By Jenny Brady and Clara Dearden | SOTENI Intl on behalf of Swazi SHEROES Program

We’re looking back at a year like no other. Over the course of the past year, deep-seated gender inequalities exacerbated the consequences of the pandemic for women and girls around the world.

On April 24, 2020 Swazi SHEROES went from concept to implementation in transforming the lives of young women in eSwatini. Swazi SHEROES is a holistic economic empowerment program for young women living with HIV/AIDS in eSwatini, where the HIV rate approaches 50% for women. No longer will these young women have to engage in transactional sex, exposing themselves to HIV, in order to get by. By building businesses, teaching practical skills, and providing economic opportunity, SHEROES will walk alongside young women as they use their voices and talents to create their own future.

Thanks to the generous support from friends like YOU and the matching of qualifying donations by GlobalGiving on International Women’s Day, SHEROES is better able to finance past and future initiatives for change.

Though SHEROES has accomplished much in the last year, there is more on the horizon. SHEROES is planning to launch a Sewing Project in the next three months. Participants of the program will achieve economic stability by learning to produce, design, market, and sell clothing and accessories. Beneficiaries will be provided raw materials, business training and stipends to build their economic capacity. The women will establish a sustainable income that can replace sex work, improve health outcomes for herself, her household, and her community.

Our collective action for equality has never been more urgent. Women want and deserve an equal future free from stigma and violence; a future that’s sustainable, hopeful, with equal rights and opportunities for all. Further support for Swazi SHEROES from GlobalGiving will accelerate the expansion of the SHEROES and fuel impact by providing more vulnerable women and girls with the tools they need to be economically and socially empowered.

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

Swazi SHEROES Program Team

SOTENI International

Links:

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Dec 22, 2020
Year-End Message from Swazi SHEROES

By Steve Driehaus | Founder, Swazi SHEROES

December 22, 2020

Dear Swazi SHEROES Supporter,

Despite the challenges we have all faced with COVID-19, 2020 has been a remarkable year for Swazi SHEROES. This year we finally went from concept to implementation in transforming the lives of young women in Eswatini. No longer will these young women have to engage in transactional sex, exposing themselves to HIV, in order to get by. By building businesses, teaching practical skills, and providing economic opportunity, SHEROES will help these young women make smart, responsible choices about their futures, choices enabled by economic freedom.

In January, Swazi SHEROES officially became a program of SOTENI International, joining a well-established 501(c)3 with a track record of fighting HIV in Africa and empowering women. SHEROES established two advisory boards, one in the United States and one in Eswatini. Comprised of 95% women, the boards focus on building our social enterprises, designing wrap-around services for participants, and harnessing the resources to make SHEROES possible. In addition, we engaged in a critical partnership with Her Majesty Inkhosikati (Queen) LaMashwama. The Queen’s desire to not only lend her name, but to become a hands-on leader on behalf of SHEROES in Eswatini, speaks to the tremendous support we have for building the capacities of these young women who face tremendous risks every day.

In September, we formally launched SHEROES. We screened the film Liyana, which beautifully depicts the challenges faced by young people in Eswatini, followed by an insightful panel discussion, which you can view here on YouTube, describing the impetus for SHEROES. By year end, we had signed the lease on our new facilities in Manzini, Eswatini and had initiated the purchase of the assets of a local accessories manufacturer, Imvelo. In addition, we confirmed a partnership with a local textile firm that will supply the needed materials for the launch of our apparel business.

In short, 2020 has been a remarkable year for Swazi SHEROES. We are now poised to make a real difference in 2021, and beyond, as we begin to welcome our first cohort of young women into the program. Your support in making such a huge difference in the lives of these young women is greatly appreciated. Please consider a contribution today to help us build on this foundation and start changing lives. Please contribute here.

Thank you and have a great New Year.

Sincerely,

Steve Driehaus
Founder, Swazi SHEROES

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