MBABANE, April 14 — MTN Eswatini Fintech CEO Sam Shongwe handed over smartphones to six child-headed household beneficiaries during a ceremony held at the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office today. The initiative forms part of a broader effort to equip vulnerable young people with tools and skills that support income generation and self-reliance.
The recipients, trained through a government-supported skills program, also received start-up kits from Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla to help launch small businesses in catering, hairdressing, and nail technology. The beneficiaries included Noxolo Mabuza and Cebile Ndwandwe (hairdressing and nail care), Gcinile Masuku (hairdressing), Tema Mkhabela (catering), and Nontsikelelo Zikalala (nail care).
Zikalala, now running her own business, has gone a step further by supporting 15 vulnerable girls with sanitary products.
MTN’s donation extended beyond the six, with visually impaired musician Nkosenomusa Sibaya Gamedze also receiving a smartphone. He had previously been supported with musical instruments through the same Child-Headed Household (CHH) program.
In total, the CHH initiative has spent over E277,000 on training, tools, uniforms, and registration fees for more than a dozen young people, including 10 who completed the BSA Skills Training.
All beneficiaries are now earning income and contributing to their households. Deputy Prime Minister Dladla described the smartphones and start-up kits as vital tools for economic independence, saying they represent opportunity, access, and growth for the youth of Eswatini.
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