Under 15 boys Basketball tournament pre-Covid 19.

Our Sports Development Project in Eswatini aims to improve the well-being of disadvantaged children and youth within the semi-rural Swazi communities, through sports, play and education. The aim is to engage these children in activities that stimulate and focus them and keep them fit and healthy, while at the same time building their confidence through physical activity.

All our social projects are guided by the SDGs and this include the sports development program.

The contributions of our sports development program to the SDGs is outlined in this overview below:

Goal 1. End poverty

With the unemployment rate at over 40% in the Kingdom of Eswatini jobs are hard to come by especially for the youth. Our sports development program acts as a platform to create some employment opportunities and lift some Emaswati out of poverty leading to larger economic participation in the country, this is both through direct employment on the project and through empowering kids with the social and life skills necessary for a self-reliant and sustainable livelihood. Lastly, it helps immensely in raising awareness and facilitating the mobilization of needed resources to alleviate poverty through partnerships with local and international bodies.

Goal 3. Good Health and Wellbeing

The Kingdom of Eswatini has the world’s highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates, with approximately 31% of the population being infected. In 2010 it was estimated that there were close to 200,000 orphaned children in the Kingdom due to HIV/AIDS. In most households, children go through some hardships which disturb their mental health and engaging them in sports helps them ward off depression. Our sports development program helps in reducing the risk of contracting diseases by strengthening cardiovascular and physical health and can contribute to tackling and preventing emotional and psychological stress. We run weekly sports days for pre-school aged vulnerable children at community Neighborhood Care Points (NCPs) in Eswatini. With activities including playing ball games, relay running races, sack races, dance games, Hoola hoop games and more, these activities have a positive impact on the children and healthy adolescent development and well-being.

Neighbourhood Care Points (NCPs) weekly sports days pre-Covid 19.

Our weekly football league for Under 13 and Under 15 boys has been a viable platform for health and emotional wellbeing,  particularly to disseminate information on sexual and reproductive health, alcohol and substance abuse, as well as communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

Goal 4. Quality education

Our weekly sports days at the community Neighborhood Care Points have been very helpful in improving learning outcomes by fostering academic performance and achievement, leadership abilities, educational opportunities and life skills to be used beyond school including the workplace. By taking part in sports and physical activities alongside school, students are exposed to the sport’s key values, including teamwork, fair play, respect for the rules and others, cooperation, discipline and tolerance. The children and young people at our neighbourhood care points benefit tremendously from the sports project because the skills we equipped them with are essential for future participation in group activities and professional life and can stimulate social cohesion within communities and societies. We also organize afternoon homework clubs to assist struggling young teenagers with their homework and grades to improve education for those that need it.

Goal 5. Gender equality

We host a weekly football league for Under 13 and 15 aged boys, a football knockout tournaments for Under 15 girls and a Basketball tournament for girls and boys. These have been a powerful platform for advocacy and raising awareness for gender equality.

Under 15 Girls Basketball tournament pre-Covid 19.

Goal 10. Reduced inequalities

We invest in the education of vulnerable children and support women and girls to participate in sports at the junior level and we develop policies to reduce inequality at various levels. Our volunteer programs are aimed at cultural immersion to improve understanding and tolerance and create opportunities for those stuck in a poverty trap.

Goal 17. Partnership for the goals

Through our sports project, we have been able to build and strengthen the relationship with our local (Hhohho Regional Football Association, schools, communities, the government of Eswatini) and international partners (BOOST, Volunteers) who are continuously helping us achieve the goals mentioned above.

NCP children with a sports volunteer pre-Covid 19.

The 17 SDGs were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. In the next few months, we will be sharing how our volunteering programs and the work we are doing, helps to support each of these 17 goals.

Where are you from?

Hi, my name is Lisa and I’m from the Netherlands.

What project did you sign up for?

I signed up for the Kruger to Coast (6 weeks). While I was in Eswatini I did the childcare project, to help at the local NCPs. I helped the teachers out and played with the children. Which they really liked (me too) ????.  While I was there, there was a school holiday. So for a week, I made drawings and posters, that they could hang at the new NCP’s that they were building.

What do you do for a living?

Well, I had a gap year. And in my gap year, I first worked at a restaurant. But most of the time I worked with elderly people with Alzheimer. I cooked for them, spent time with them and just made their day a lot better. Now I am going to study Tourism Management.

What does volunteering mean to you?

Volunteering means for me that I can help (or try to help) people who need it. It is not for my own benefit, but for others. It also means stepping out of my comfort zone by meeting new people, travelling alone to the other side of the world, doing things I’ve never done before and overcoming my fears. My volunteering experience was very valuable to me and I will never forget it. It is really worth it.

Reason for choosing All Out Africa?

At first, I didn’t even know I would be travelling with All Out Africa. Because I booked the journey at their Dutch partner organization (Activity International). Afterwards, I am so happy that I travelled with All Out Africa because the staff was kind and very helpful. The location was beautiful and most of the things were well organized.

Your experience as a volunteer, did it had any positive impact on your life?

Yes, it really had a positive impact on my life. I think I appreciate more what I have here in the Netherlands. I was able to help people, I really want to continue that in the future. I also want to inspire other people to do volunteer work, because it is so valuable. The children, people and the overall experience made me see what is really important in life.

Click here if you would like to know more about our Childcare (Eswatini)

While all of that is going on we still make time and take them on a tour on Inhambane, the capital city of our province of the same name. We visited the local history museum, shopped, toured the neighbourhood, and took in some amazing cuisine. It is also an important opportunity for them to see how to take local transportation should the need arises and experience first hand some of the limitations of our remote location.

For some, getting started with scuba diving is as simple as completing a review in the pool and getting comfortable in the ocean. However, many of our volunteers are learning to dive for the first time, so they are busy getting certified to start surveying the reef in just a few days.

So after our first week, I’m proud to say all of the volunteers are certified and ready to dive. They have almost all learned to recognize the 60 species of fish targeted in our reef surveys and everyone has learned the appropriate data collection and entry procedures. Now the real fun/science can begin.

Written by Luke Manson

Click here if you would like to know more about our Marine Research Project, or our Dive Master Training Project.

Where are you from?

I am from The Netherlands, I live near Amsterdam

What project did you sign up for?

Kruger to coast (4 weeks)

What do you do for a living?

I am currently on a gap year and I want to study Tourism ????

What does volunteering mean to you?

That is such a tough question, in my own understanding volunteering is about giving your time and skills, for the benefit of others, the local community and very importantly yourself. It was so special to make the kids happy and do something for someone else. I learned a lot from this experience.

Reason for choosing All Out Africa?

It was recommended by the agency I signed in.

Your experience as a volunteer, did it had any positive impact on your life?

I have learned so much from this experience, I am starting to see life differently and most importantly, what I took from this trip is that always appreciate what you have! There is always someone out there who wishes they had what you have. This experience has a great impact on my life. I appreciate everything so much more and my problems are not that big anymore.

Click here if you would like to know more about our Childcare (Eswatini)