Transformation – ‘a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance, a metamorphosis’).
During our time in Swaziland we have seen some resilient, brave and hard working people. We have been privileged to partner with them and witness their transformation over the last few years and would like to share with you their stories of change over upcoming blogs.
Meet Mzwandile
We first met 12 year old Mzwandile in 2012. He lives with both his parents and 4 other siblings. The family were struggling living in a makeshift mud, stick and plastic home. The children’s hut was rain-damaged leaving huge holes where small rodents came through at night. The children did not have school uniforms and as a result were often sent home from school.
Operation Hope were able to put the family on our mealie meal program as a short term solution while we discussed what their most pressing needs were and what they could do to make a difference in their own lives.
In 2014 a new two room house with a pit latrine was built with a 5000 litre water tank added later in 2015.
The children received new school uniforms and have been attending school.
Mzwandile’s mum was able to secure some temporal work selling vegetables at the local market. Mzwandile’s dad has been working as a community policeman and doing some temporal work around his area.
The Operation Hope Swazi team visits the family regularly to discuss strategies to help them improve their livelihood.
Although still struggling to make some ends meet, the family have testified that they no longer need to worry about their shelter and housing needs… they are now feeling safe and secure in their new home.
We had a fun house warming party to celebrate. It came complete with some traditional dancing provided by the family.
