Mbabane – Eswatini Network of Women (Eswatini NOW) has been acknowledged for its contribution to women and youth empowerment in the Kingdom of Eswatini, as well as for the support it extends to other organisations.
The network was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the African Women Peace and Development Foundation (AWPDF). The certificate was received by Eswatini NOW Deputy Chairperson for Youth Empowerment, Lindelwa Makhanya, during a small ceremony held at the organisation’s offices in Sidwashini.
Receiving the award, Makhanya conveyed appreciation on behalf of Eswatini NOW and welcomed the recognition from AWPDF, noting that such gestures play an important role in sustaining their work.
“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-centred programmes that will pave the way for a brighter future for the younger generation,” she said.
Makhanya also briefed AWPDF officials on the initiatives currently being implemented by Eswatini NOW, as well as projects in the pipeline aimed at improving the lives of women and young people.
“We believe that through strategic collaborations, such as the one we envision with AWPDF, we can extend our reach and effectiveness and bring about meaningful change in our communities,” she added.
The certificate was presented by AWPDF Chairperson Tizie Maphalala and Technical Officer Lomcebo Dlamini. Speaking during the ceremony, Maphalala said AWPDF had prioritised youth empowerment this year after identifying the need to scale up programmes targeting young people.
“We realised that more programmes targeting the youth are essential, and we were encouraged to find that Eswatini NOW shares this vision. Your commitment to empowering both women and youth aligns well with our objectives,” she said.
Maphalala expressed optimism about future collaboration between the two organisations, saying their combined efforts could have a strong impact on the lives of women and young people in Eswatini.
She also extended appreciation to Senator Pholile Shakantu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, who is the patron and founder of Eswatini NOW. Maphalala described Senator Shakantu’s leadership and support as instrumental to both Eswatini NOW and AWPDF.
Maphalala referred to a recent AWPDF event where former African Union Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was the guest of honour, noting the significant support provided by Eswatini NOW’s patron towards the success of the event.
“Minister Shakantu’s support goes beyond her role as patron of Eswatini NOW. In her capacity as minister, she has consistently supported initiatives that uplift women and youth across the continent. We are deeply grateful for her contribution to our recent event,” Maphalala said.
Eswatini NOW also shared plans to expand its programmes into sectors such as sports and education, with new projects expected to be rolled out in the coming months. The organisation remains confident that partnerships with bodies like AWPDF will strengthen efforts to bring positive change to communities across Eswatini.
