AVSF - Swaziland - 2012-2014
Building bridges and supporting each other.
What began as reality TV became the reality of regular education for all, a feeding programme and a football team to name but a few of the achievements of the AVSF in the community of Ekudzeni, Swaziland.
Years: 2012, 2014
The African Village School Fund (AVSF) and the ALMT have made excellent progress in facilitating education, health promotion, nutrition and growth of economy and infrastructure in the area known as Ekudzeni in Swaziland. Having watched the AVSF grow from strength to strength and deliver truly measurable positive social change, the ALMT was happy to announce the following grants for 2012/13.
A mini bus to enable both preschool students and the local football team to travel to and from the community.
Bridging the community - The community is currently divided by a fast flowing, deep river with no safe crossing for the pupils travelling to both Angus Lawson’s Primary School and Mungo’s preschool. AVSF have become increasingly concerned that this is a tragedy waiting to happen and requested the funds needed to build a permanent bridge to link the two halves of our community safely.
-One cow, six additional pigs, one hundred chickens and the means to plant a large potato field and additional seasonal vegetables. Currently AVSF feed up to 200 children daily and, as a result, need to increase their livestock and agricultural projects to ensure future sustainability and demand. Since the purchase of their original pig, Polly, they have raised 14 further piglets and a second sow is due to give birth imminently. One pig provides enough meat for a month and gives the children a much needed source of protein to supplement their staple maize diet.
In addition to the above, the annual Burns Night dinner in 2014 raised enough money to provide a second cow to provide fresh milk, over 100 chickens to provide eggs which will improve the children’s health, well being and nutritional status greatly, and two more pigs for the breeding programme. The chickens and pigs also provide a valuable, additional income through the sale of excess eggs.
