Volunteering in Eswatini! Go Volunteer Africa, the leading and largest volunteer travel organization welcomes you to Eswatini (Swaziland). The lush and mountainous Kingdom of Swaziland, now officially called eSwatini, is Africa’s last absolute monarchy.
This small but scenically beautiful country of emerald peaks, rivers, ravines, rolling valleys, and waterfalls is a hiker’s eden. Nature reserves are the top attraction here, and though only a few host Big Five animals (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino), all of them offer an intimate game-viewing experience, lush mountain scenery, and a rich diversity of species.
Volunteering in Eswatini with Go Volunteer Africa is affordable, low cost and budget friendly. The volunteer opportunities in Eswatini are meaningful and life changing both to the volunteer and the host community. Go Volunteer Africa was ranked as the best volunteer organization in Eswatini (Swaziland). All volunteer programs in Eswatini are community driven and managed by the local coordinating teams and this will give you a chance to get to know local people and really help those in need.
Swaziland also proudly preserves its fascinating culture, customs, and festivals. Travelers are welcome to watch some of the festivities of Incwala, an impressive three-week kingship ritual in December and January, and, Umhlanga, the lively Reed Dance ceremony, which takes place during the last week of August or first week of September.
VOLUNTEERING IN ESWATINI PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
- Coach sports and games
- Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
- Enjoy Mlawula Nature Reserve
- Explore the Mkhaya Game Reserve
- Safari at Hlane Royal National Park
- Work with childcare & medical projects
- Work with our arts and culture projects
- Work with women empowerment projects
- Get involved in our environment conservation project
- Visit the numerous historic and geological sites of the region
Volunteering in Eswatini is an immersion experience, days in the villages allow for a variety of opportunities. And whether you work in a clinic, school, or orphan home, participate in building or agricultural projects, or simply assist in the day-to-day tasks, you will have a memorable experience.
With its outstanding scenery and abundant wildlife, the Kingdom of Eswatini is a nature lover’s paradise. One of the world’s few remaining monarchies, the tiny country, which is almost completely surrounded by South Africa, has no shortage of hiking, biking, and horseback-riding opportunities, and its many national parks offer glimpses of everything from rare birds to endangered black rhinos.
Known for being especially friendly and laid-back, the Swazi people are committed to preserving their culture in the face of modernization, which means that traditional customs play a large part in everyday life. Visitors to Swaziland are in for a unique and authentic African experience.
ESWATINI FAST FACTS
Eswatini, officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its north, west, south, and southeast. At no more than 200 kilometers (120 mi) north to south and 130 kilometers (81 mi) east to west, Eswatini is one of the smallest countries in Africa; despite this, its climate and topography are diverse, ranging from a cool and mountainous highveld to a hot and dry lowveld.
The population is composed primarily of ethnic Swazis. The prevalent language is Swazi (siSwati in native form). The Swazis established their kingdom in the mid-18th century under the leadership of Ngwane III. The country and the Swazi take their names from Mswati II, the 19th-century king under whose rule Swazi territory was expanded and unified; the present boundaries were drawn up in 1881 in the midst of the Scramble for Africa.
After the Second Boer War, the kingdom, under the name of Swaziland, was a British protectorate from 1903 until it regained its independence on 6 September 1968. In April 2018, the official name was changed from Kingdom of Swaziland to Kingdom of Eswatini, mirroring the name commonly used in Swazi.
The government is an absolute monarchy, the last of its kind in Africa, and has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986. Elections are held every five years to determine the House of Assembly and the Senate majority. The current constitution was adopted in 2005. Umhlanga, the reed dance held in August/September, and incwala, the kingship dance held in December/January, are the nation’s most important events.
WHY VOLUNTEER IN ESWATINI (SWAZILAND)
The Swazi population faces major health issues: HIV/AIDS and (to a lesser extent) tuberculosis are widespread. It is estimated that 26% of the adult population is HIV-positive. As of 2018, Eswatini has the 12th-lowest life expectancy in the world, at 58 years. The population of Eswatini is young, with, as of 2018, a median age of 22 years and people aged 14 years or younger constituting 35% of the country’s total population.
Eswatini is predominantly rural, with 25 per cent living in urban areas. Approximately 59 per cent of the population live below the national poverty line. One of the devastating effects of HIV and AIDS, coupled with poverty, has been the escalating numbers of vulnerable children in the country. For example, in 2012, the number of children classified as vulnerable in Eswatini was estimated to be at 181,000. In 2016 this number had escalated to 241,377 – about 71% of the 339,968 child population.
Vulnerable children are children who are orphaned, live in a child-headed household or come from a poor family background. Despite the different situations that make them vulnerable, these children share one thing in common – and that is extreme poverty and unmet basic needs for survival.
ESWATINI VOLUNTEER PROJECTS
ESWATINI: Farm Work Volunteer Project
ESWATINI: Elderly Care Volunteer Project
ESWATINI: Childcare Volunteer Project
HOW TO APPLY
To start the process fill Volunteer application form and submit it for consideration and book your placement. For more information on how to get enrolled for the volunteering experience of a lifetime contact us. Or Give us a call | WhatsApp | Telegram | Viber | Imo at +254-796-786292 to talk to a Program Specialist.
