PAYING TRIBUTE TO SAVE THE CHILDREN

THE news of Save the Children’s closure in the Kingdom of Eswatini has shocked emaSwati because Save the Children is one of the non-governmental organisations that were established pre-independence, as the British branch.

It is an organisation that has a foot print in serving emaSwati children through serving meals in schools, then known as Zondle, providing bursaries to poor children, children with disabilities and other critical problems. I am particularly paying special tribute to Eswatini Save the Children because the organisation played a critical role in sponsoring children from poor backgrounds.  I was one of those children whose parents struggled to pay fees. My principal approached Save the Children for sponsorship and I was lucky that a good Samaritan in the United Kingdom sponsored my education at Secondary level through Save sponsorship mechanism.  I and many students who benefitted are grateful.

History of Save the Children globally
Save the Children was founded in London, England, on April 15, 1919, by Eglantyne Jebb and her sister Dorothy Buxton as an effort to alleviate starvation of children in Germany and Austria-Hungary during the Allied blockade of Germany of World War I which continued after the Armistice. Save the Children worked in over 100 countries, doing whatever it took  every day and in times of crisis, to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm.  As the world’s leading expert on childhood, we believe that every child deserves a future.  This belief is at the heart of everything we do.  In 2023 alone, Save the Children programmes and partners helped 105.9 million children in 115 countries become healthier, safer and better educated.

Eswatini Save the Children foot print
Save the Children has been a leading non-governmental organisation in Eswatini who were a leading voice for the voiceless children in our country.  The Organisation has been providing relief to children in distress whether though social protection, food distribution in schools and neighbourhood care points, HIV/AIDS interventions, advocating for pro-children policies to mention a few.

Save the Children was among the few organisations who founded the Coordinating Assembly of NGOs, following the realisation that humanitarian needs for emaSwati and efforts made by Non-govermental Organisatioin(NGOs) in supporting the Eswatini government and the population in general could be effectively delivered through a coordination framework. I was lucky to have worked very closely with Save the Children leaders including Babe William Msibi, Senator Lizzy Nkosi and Mr. Dumisani Mnisi.  During the tenure of these leaders, Save the Children paid more annual members’ subscription fee to demonstrate their passion and commitment to CANGO.

Save the Children was one the NGOs that played a key role during the major drought of 1991/1992 and hence were founder members of the Food Security Consortium that was a pioneer for Consortia Coordination and advocacy mechanism at CANGO.  Save the Children advocated relentlessly for the demystification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.  They promoted, even when opposed by influential voices in society, the principles of the Convention including, non-discrimination, best interest of the child, right to live, survival and development and the right for the children to be heard.  

They were also steadfast in advocating for the abolition of corporal punishment, an initiative that was opposed by various sectors of society including the education stakeholders, some members of Parliament, the Church and some NGOs involved in human rights work in Eswatini to mention a few. It is concerning that Save the Children is folding at a time when children in the country face enormous challenges. For, example, according to the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development report, 56.5 per cent of children aged 0-17 in Eswatini are multi-dimensionally poor, that is, they are deprived in four or more dimensions of wellbeing. 

Rural children are worst affected including those in Shiselweni and Lubombo respectively. According to UNICEF 2023, report Under five mortalities is 41 deaths per 1000 live births, one in 20 children are underweight and 2 per cent wasted.  Children development, learning capabilities and academic performance are adversely affected by violence, leading to consequences such as low self-esteem and depression among other problems.

It is well documented that the country’s health system is near collapse with shortages of drugs and essentials now a norm in public facilities.  This situation affects children greatly, as most of them come from poor families.  Schools have been facing perennial food shortages in a country, where poor children depend on school meals for nourishment. It is unfortunate that the funding crisis facing humanitarian organisations in Eswatini and globally has been worsened by ongoing conflicts which have triggered humanitarian crises in Ukraine, Gaza and Lebanon. Who will fill the gap left by Save the Children in our country?  I am hopeful that government will do more for children.     

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