By: Bandile Lukhele & Nokwanda Msibi
Rejuvenating Schools, Empowering Youth: The SEIG Project Makes a Difference in Manzini
The Social Entrepreneurship and Income Generating (SEIG) project funded by Swaziland’s Schools Project (SSP) has breathed new life into schools, ensuring a conducive learning environment for hundreds of students. The project rehabilited desk from schools around the Manzini region.
Re-use, and Recycle
Over 500 desks across four schools – St. Philomena, Thulwane, Mkhuzweni, and Bethany Primary – have been meticulously rehabilated by Emajaha apprentices. For this process, we use the steel material from the desks that would have been waste material, repaint, welded if need be and joined with new wood material and the desk is transformed into a new and lovely safer desk. This translates to a renewed learning experience for countless students:
- St. Philomena: 235 desks repaired
- Thulwane Primary: 118 desks repaired
- Mkhuzweni Primary: 150 desks repaired
- Bethany Primary School: 100 desks repaired
Empowering Apprentices, Enhancing Skills
The driving force behind this initiative is truly inspiring. Emajaha apprentices, enrolled in SEIG’s carpentry and steelwork programs, have honed their skills by restoring the damaged desks. This project provided a valuable platform for these young individuals to showcase their expertise and gain valuable hands-on experience.
Gratitude Abounds
The positive impact of the SEIG project is evident in the heartfelt gratitude expressed by the school principals. All four principals extended their deepest appreciation to KI (Kwakha Indvodza) and partners for providing much-needed help and for sending well-behaved apprentices to work within the schools during the repair period. This sentiment highlights the project’s success in fostering a collaborative spirit and creating a win-win situation for all involved.
The SEIG project doesn’t just impact emajaha, but also the students who will benefit from a more comfortable learning environment. Through the project we hope we have empowered emajaha who will be players within the local economy or stimulate the. This is a story of empowered youth, revitalized schools, and a community working together to create a brighter future.