MAYIWANE – Thirteen university students from the United States have arrived in Eswatini to launch a clean water project valued at E550,000 at Herefords Primary School, under the Mayiwane Inkhundla.
The group, made up of students from Duke University and Cornell University, will spend the next eight weeks working on a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (W.A.S.H) initiative. Their visit is part of a collaboration between the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, the Microprojects Programme, and Engineers in Action.
Welcoming the group during an official reception, Under Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, Siboniso Masilela, praised the students for choosing Eswatini as their destination. “You could have gone anywhere, but you chose to support our communities. That says a lot about your commitment to service,” he told them.
The clean water project is expected to address long-standing water challenges at Herefords Primary, where pupils have often relied on unsafe sources like rivers and mountain streams.
Sibusiso Mbingo, Director of the Microprojects Programme Coordinating Unit, spoke candidly about the state of water infrastructure in many rural schools. “Most learners fetch water from rivers before they enter classrooms. This is not sustainable,” he said. He acknowledged the students’ contribution as a significant gesture and assured them of the government’s continued support during their stay.
He also announced that the visiting group is the third cohort of American students currently in the country, and they will be officially introduced to their peers and ministry staff during a celebration planned for the first week of July.
Since arriving on Friday, the students have been engaging with local officials and familiarising themselves with the community. Many said they were grateful for the warm welcome and eager to make a difference.
“We’ve been touched by the hospitality,” said one student from Duke. “We’re here to learn, to help, and to connect. And the food—absolutely amazing!”
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