By Ncaba Ntshakala
Thank you!
Eswatini Network of Women (Eswatini NOW) was recently acknowledged for the contributions to women and youth empowerment in the Kingdom of Eswatini and support that the network extends to other organizations.
Eswatini NOW was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the African Women Peace and Development Foundation (AWPDF). The prestigious certificate was received by Lindelwa Makhanya, Deputy Chairperson of Youth Empowerment at Eswatini NOW, during a small ceremony held at their offices in Sidwashini.
Makhanya expressed her deep gratitude on behalf of Eswatini NOW, applauding AWPDF for their recognition and highlighting the importance of such acknowledgments in driving their mission forward.
“This recognition from AWPDF reinforces our commitment to making a lasting impact on the lives of women and youth in Eswatini.
We are not only focused on empowering women but also on implementing youth-centered programmes that will pave the way for a brighter future for the younger generation,” Makhanya stated.
She took the opportunity to brief the AWPDF executives on the various initiatives Eswatini NOW is currently spearheading and those in the pipeline aimed at transforming the lives of both women and youth.
“We believe that through strategic collaborations like the one we envision with AWPDF, we can extend our reach and effectiveness, bringing about meaningful change in our communities,” Makhanya added.
The certificate was presented by AWPDF Chairperson, Tizie Maphalala, and Technical Officer, Lomcebo Dlamini.
Maphalala emphasized AWPDF’s focus on youth empowerment this year, noting that they identified a need to intensify efforts in this area.
“We realized that more programmes targeting the youth are essential, and we were thrilled to discover that Eswatini NOW shares this vision.
Your dedication to both women and youth empowerment aligns perfectly with our goals,” Maphalala said.
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Maphalala further highlighted the potential for a fruitful collaboration between AWPDF and Eswatini NOW, expressing that their combined efforts could significantly impact the lives of women and young people in Eswatini.
“We see immense potential in Eswatini NOW’s initiatives, and we are eager to explore ways to work together to empower even more individuals,” she remarked.
In her brief remarks, Maphalala also extended heartfelt thanks to Senator Pholile Shakantu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Patron and founder of Eswatini NOW.
Maphalala praised Senator Shakantu’s visionary leadership and her generous support, which has been instrumental not only to Eswatini NOW but also to AWPDF.
She recalled the recent event hosted by AWPDF, where former African Union Chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was the guest of honour, and highlighted the significant sponsorship and support provided by Eswatini NOW Patron towards the success of that event.
“Minister Shakantu’s support goes beyond her role as the patron of Eswatini NOW; it extends to her duties as a minister, where she has shown unwavering commitment to uplifting women and youth across the continent and for helping us in our recent event.
For this, we are profoundly grateful,” Maphalala concluded.
Moreover, Eswatini NOW shared their ambitious plans to expand their initiatives across various sectors, including sports and education.
These projects, which are set at enhancing youth development and women’s empowerment, will be rolled out in the coming months.
The organization is optimistic that partnerships like those with AWPDF will further amplify their efforts to bring about positive change in Eswatini.
