Today, SOS Children’s Villages officially signed a memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Eswatini National Libraries Services. The MOU was signed by the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of ICT, Mr. Phesheya David Dube and witnessed by the Library Director, Mrs. Dudu Kunene. This MOU will be effective from the 1st of August 2024, ending in 2027.
Every child and young person have a right to education. Yet many children in Eswatini and worldwide are denied their right and are excluded from inclusive quality and transformative education. Children and young people without parental care or at risk of losing it are particularly vulnerable to missing out on education and training.
SOS Children’s Villages and the Eswatini National Library Services, share the same interest of empowering children and young people through the promotion of quality education, focusing on the child and young person as a resourceful individual with unique skills and capabilities.
“SOS Children’s Villages is driven to establish partnerships with national and local governments and community-based organizations to empower communities and parents to develop and strengthen educational programmes and support whereas Eswatini National Library Services, on the other hand, is in the same drive of collaborating with strategic partners to attain her vision, mission, and business objectives. The National Library Service’s mission aligns closely with SOS’s vision and we honoured to join hands to make a positive impact on the lives of children and young people in the Kingdom of Eswatini”, said the SOS Children’s Villages National Director, Phindile Nhleko.
Dudu Kunene, the Director of the Eswatini National Library Services, elaborated that the collaboration between the two organizations seeks to promote literacy, education, social inclusion, and equality for children who have lost parental care and those at risk of losing parental care to enhance academic success and lifelong. This will be done through providing free and equitable access to library services and a broad range of human knowledge, experience, information, and ideas, and the use of new technologies for young people under the care of SOS.
The SOS Children’s Villages Director also mentioned that the core business of the organization is to empower children and young people to shape their future. “ We support young people to prepare for independence, helping them gain access to higher education, vocational skills training, mentorships and internships through initiatives such as Youth Can! the global partnership for youth employability. As we support the children and young people in shaping their future, it is critical to also cultivate a culture of reading as this will support in increasing their educational outcome”, she concluded.
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