Imagine being 10 years old and having to walk 10km each way to school every day. Imagine having your only meal of the day at school because your parents have died and the community that looks after you has no means to feed you. Imagine having an ambition to be a policewoman or a nurse but no longer being able to go to school because your parents can’t afford the school fees of between £30 and £60 per year. These were some of the stories we heard first-hand on recent trips to Swaziland.

Project 1 – Swaziland Primary School

Thanks to your support we have built a kitchen, provided Maths and Science Equipment, provided home economics equipment, computer equipment, have put electricty into the school and have repaired classroom roofs (so no more wet and ruined exam papers!). We have also supported over 100 children through school in 2009 and will continue to do so in 2010. We are continuing to support the school and have new plans for 2012.

Project 2 – Sustainable Garden Project

Through the Claypotts Trust we have supported a sustainable garden project in a very poor rural area of Swaziland. The land has been cleared and fencing provided. The first crops have now been grown which will mean that the children, many of whom are orphaned, will be able to get better nutrition

Project 3 – Desks and Chairs

We found a school where children were crammed into classrooms, sharing desks and chairs and yet there were two empty and locked classrooms at the school. We have equipped two classrooms with desk and chairs at Mangwaneni school in Mbabane and now the children are in an environment in which they can learn.

An experienced headteacher came to us as he had started at a new school only to discover that he and his teachers had no desks, chairs or filing cabinets for the children's records. We have bought them this furniture and now they can teach.

Project 4 – Building a pre-school

We supported the Vusumnotfo community project with the building of a pre-school. The school had been running for 5 years in a temporary structure that was inadequate and insecure. The new school is now built allowing children aged 3-5 years of age to learn in a stimulating and safe environment.

Project 5 – Shipment of school furniture

In the UK we are currently getting rid of a lot of school furniture and books as we refurbish our schools. We have paid for two containers of this furniture to be sent to Swaziland.

Project 6 – School Uniforms

Thanks you to everyone who bought school uniforms. We paid for 55 orphans and vulnerable children to have new school uniforms. Some pictures are shown below.

Project 7– Sewing Machines

Four sewing machines were delivered to the Mambane community (see picture below) and two to the Dvumbe community (where the garden project is running). They will use the machines to make school uniforms, track suits and cushions. They have also been given stationary and instructions on how to record income and expenditure so that they run it as a business. The aim is to run a profitable business to help pay for educating and feeding their children.