Rebuild the Lives of 70 Imprisoned Eswatini Youth

Project Overview

This project supports 70 youth offenders convicted of minor crimes by equipping them with market-driven vocational and entrepreneurship skills to increase their employment and income-generating opportunities. The program integrates life skills education for behavior change, business management, computer literacy, and mentorship to empower these young people to establish and sustain their own enterprises. This initiative directly contributes to the Eswatini Correctional Services’ youth rehabilitation program, aiming to transform these individuals into productive citizens and reduce the risk of repeat offending.

Implementation site

Nkilongo Inkhundla, Lubombo Region, Eswatini

Key Findings

• The 70 targeted youth offenders lack access to vocational education and training opportunities, limiting their chances for employment or entrepreneurship.
• They also have no access to life skills education, which is essential for behavior change and personal development.

Intervention and Support

On January 28, 2025, five of the targeted youth were enrolled at Ngihlomise Youth Skills Academy for vocational and life skills training. The training programs include:

• Plumbing
• Welding
• Domestic Electrical Installation

In addition, agriculture and financial literacy modules were incorporated into the curriculum. These additional skills aim to equip participants with alternative means of livelihood through small-scale enterprises or subsistence farming should formal employment opportunities remain scarce. This holistic approach is designed to reduce the likelihood of recidivism by providing viable, lawful income-generating options.

Funding Needs

Despite the progress made, additional funding is required to achieve the project’s objectives fully. The following needs have been identified:

1. Enrollment of the remaining 65 youth offenders into vocational training programs.
2. Provision of mentorship and business development support to assist beneficiaries in establishing and managing their own enterprises upon completion of training.
3. Facilitation of internship placements to provide practical work experience, enhancing their employability.
4. Procurement of start-up toolkits and equipment to enable graduates to launch small trades or agriculture-based projects.

Conclusion

Empowering disadvantaged youth offenders through vocational training, life skills education, and entrepreneurship support addresses the barriers they face in accessing the formal labor market. This initiative offers them a pathway to productive livelihoods through employment or self-employment, while life skills education fosters behavior change, enabling them to make informed, responsible decisions. Ultimately, the project aims to rehabilitate and reintegrate these young people into society, reducing the likelihood of reoffending and contributing positively to community development.