Our Programs

This project, generously supported by our donor partners, was implemented over two years in the Sithobela and Siphofaneni regions of Eswatini, targeting 1,800 at-risk adolescent girls. The initiative focused on strengthening educational retention among school-attending girls and providing alternative education platforms for adolescent wives and young mothers who have been forced to leave the formal school system. By addressing key vulnerabilities, the program aimed to enhance girls’ educational outcomes, increase their social protective assets, and transform community social norms surrounding girls’ education.

Aligned with our mandate to improve the lives of vulnerable children, youth, and their families, the core objectives of this program include:

• Preventing school dropout by using an Early Warning System that identifies girls at risk and offered proactive support.

• Enhancing social and protective assets through the facilitation of Protect Our Youth clubs.

• Providing scholarships to sustain the education of girls vulnerable to discontinuing secondary education.

• Conducting community sensitization campaigns to elevate the understanding and value of girls’ education within families and community structures.

In tandem with prevention strategies, the program also empowered teen mothers who have exited formal schooling by delivering non-formal education and mentorship opportunities. Early Childhood Stimulation training equips young mothers to foster optimal development for their children, ensuring a positive intergenerational impact. The success of this initiative was underpinned by strong collaboration with local community stakeholders, education authorities, and youth-focused organizations, ensuring a holistic and sustainable approach to breaking the cycle of poverty. By equipping girls and young women with education and life skills, this program contributes significantly to reducing their vulnerability to disease, including HIV and AIDS, and enhances their long-term economic opportunities, ultimately fostering resilient families and communities.

Supported by key donors committed to advancing gender equality and youth empowerment, the Go Girls Connect! initiative was implemented across Eswatini, targeting vulnerable adolescent girls and young women. The program’s core mandate aligned with our commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children, youth, and their families by fostering digital inclusion, strengthening protective mechanisms, and promoting gender rights advocacy.

The program leveraged innovative mobile-based technology to enhance digital literacy and equip girls with critical life skills, protective assets, and access to resources. Central to its objectives was empowering young women to effectively challenge restrictive gender norms, advocate for their human rights, and build resilience against gender-based violence (GBV).

Key components of the program included:

• Delivery of 30 evidence-based, human rights-focused digital sessions through the Protect Our Youth platform, reaching 1,650 adolescent girls. These sessions aimed to increase knowledge, boost civic engagement, and strengthen girls’ demand for and access to their rights.

• Deployment of a self-administered GBV screening tool designed to trigger an immediate GBV Response Protocol, thereby connecting survivors to critical post-abuse services efficiently.

• Implementation of a robust Early Warning System, utilizing a self-administered screening tool to identify girls at risk of dropping out of secondary school and facilitating timely interventions to support school retention.

Our partnership with Cell-Ed, a leader in mobile learning solutions, was instrumental in developing and delivering this innovative program model. Together, we established a scalable and evidence-based approach that addresses the digital gender divide, promotes protective environments, and facilitates access to essential GBV services.

By combining technology, rights-based education, and comprehensive support systems, Go Girls Connect! exemplified impactful collaboration that advances our organizational mission to uplift vulnerable girls and youth, ensuring they can thrive, advocate for their rights, and build healthier futures.

The Organization supported by key development partners, the National Case Management System (NCMS) for Eswatini was developed in close collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) to establish a harmonized, HIV-sensitive framework for social welfare service delivery. This initiative targeted vulnerable children, youth, and their families across Eswatini, with initial implementation focusing on 10 communities within the Lubombo and Shiselweni regions.

The core objective of the NCMS is to enhance the quality and accessibility of social work services by strengthening referral pathways and coordination mechanisms among governmental agencies and civil society organizations. By integrating regional stakeholder forums and empowering community-based cadres such as Community Case Workers, the system ensures timely identification, referral, and continuous follow-up of vulnerable children to the appropriate services, contributing to effective case closure.

Underpinned by national policies and statutory regulations, the project successfully developed a comprehensive national framework, including standard operating procedures, a Social Worker Manual, and community worker handbooks to support case management. Capacity building efforts include tailored training programs and a coaching and mentoring plan to enable DSW social workers' adoption and sustained use of the NCMS.

Strong partnerships with DSW facilitated quarterly regional stakeholder forums to improve care coordination and address implementation challenges. Furthermore, social workers were supported to train and supervise community volunteers, reinforcing service delivery at the grassroots level.

Through these collaborative efforts, the NCMS advances our mandate to improve the well-being and resilience of vulnerable children, youth, and families by establishing an integrated, sustainable social welfare system responsive to their needs.