Welcome to Project Canaan
Bringing HOPE to Eswatini
Fighting Hunger. Caring for Orphans and Vulnerable Children. Decreasing Poverty. Providing Education.
"We receive a baby every 9 days."
HFA is the only facility in Eswatini that accepts abandoned infants and cares for them all the way into adulthood—until they are 22 years old.
What is Project Canaan
Immediate relief meets lasting change through Project Canaan
Project Canaan is a 2,500-acre initiative in Eswatini where crisis care meets long-term vision. Launched in 2009 by Heart for Africa (Canada), it was created in response to the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS, poverty, and food insecurity—conditions that have led to thousands of children being orphaned and babies abandoned at alarming rates. Today, Heart for Africa (Canada) receives a baby every nine days, each one in desperate need of safety and care. Project Canaan provides immediate relief by feeding the hungry, housing and nurturing abandoned infants, offering education, and creating local jobs—all while building toward a self-sustaining future by 2030. Rooted in years of experience working with orphanages and children’s homes across Africa, Heart for Africa (Canada) moved from short-term partnerships to establish a place where hope could grow and transformation could last for generations with Project Canaan.
A Country in Crisis
But There’s Hope
Eswatini is a country in crisis, facing deep-rooted challenges that make it nearly impossible for its people to recover without outside help. With 95% of food imported, widespread hunger is fueled by high costs, severe droughts, and a 70% unemployment rate that leaves families struggling to survive on as little as $3.65 a day. The impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic has left over 200,000 children vulnerable, many without parents, shelter, or access to education—especially those without birth certificates or the means to afford school uniforms. In rural areas, 60% live below the poverty line, leading to heartbreaking situations like child abandonment and increased trafficking risks. The people of Eswatini are resilient, but the need is overwhelming. They cannot bounce back alone. With support from people like you, we can provide meals, shelter, education, and job opportunities that offer hope—and a real path forward.
Ongoing Impact- Future Vision
Daily impact that lays the foundation for a self-sustaining future.
Every day at Project Canaan, Heart for Africa (Canada) is bringing hope to Eswatini through urgent and ongoing work—feeding the hungry, caring for abandoned babies and vulnerable children, educating children, and creating jobs. These efforts are not temporary—they are the heartbeat of our mission.
But we know that lasting change requires sustainability. While our farm and vocational programs currently provide about 30% of what’s needed to support daily operations, we’re building toward a bold vision: to become fully self-sustaining by 2030. In the meantime, this life-saving work continues—and we’re committed to reaching even more children and families in need.
Heart for Africa (Canada) tackles hunger in Eswatini through a two-fold approach: providing food security on-site at Project Canaan and partnering with local churches to reach rural communities beyond the farm. At the heart of this effort is the Project Canaan Farm Initiative, which plays a vital role in both daily nourishment and the long-term goal of sustainability.
The farm produces milk, eggs, and vegetables through a combination of greenhouse hydroponics, outdoor agriculture, a dairy operation, and 6,000 laying hens. These resources feed the 400+ children and staff living at Project Canaan and support meals distributed to children in remote areas through a trusted church partner network. This initiative not only puts food on the table—it creates jobs, teaches agricultural skills, and brings hope to communities where hunger is part of daily life.
How Heart for Africa (Canada) is Caring for Orphans:
Eswatini faces a devastating orphan crisis due to the long-lasting effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, poverty, and extreme unemployment. With more than 200,000 vulnerable children and babies being abandoned at alarming rates, Heart for Africa (Canada) is often the only place of refuge for the youngest and most at-risk.
At Project Canaan, Heart for Africa (Canada) provides full-time care for abandoned and orphaned children—from infancy all the way into adulthood. We are the only organization in Eswatini that accepts infants and commits to raising them until they are 22 years old, offering not just shelter, but love, education, healthcare, and emotional support.
Today, 430+ children call Project Canaan home. They live in family-style housing with dedicated caregivers, access formal schooling, and receive everything they need to grow, thrive, and dream of a future they never thought possible.
Poverty in Eswatini is widespread, generational, and deeply tied to hunger, family instability, and unemployment. Heart for Africa (Canada)’s Poverty Initiative focuses on one powerful solution: employment that creates dignity, purpose, and lasting impact.
Through Project Canaan, Heart for Africa (Canada) currently employs over 400 people, many of whom support entire families—meaning more than 2,800 lives are being directly impacted through steady, meaningful work. These jobs span across farming, childcare, cooking, security, construction, and specialized trades.
Vocational programs like Lusito Mechanics, Khutsala™ Artisans, and the Kufundza Carpentry Center equip men and women with marketable skills in auto repair, beadwork, woodworking, and more—breaking the cycle of poverty with every paycheck. These programs not only reduce operational costs at Project Canaan but also generate income and open doors for Swazis to build stable futures.
Because in Eswatini, work can mean the difference between abandonment and hope—between generational poverty and generational change.
Education is at the heart of lasting change—and at Project Canaan, Heart for Africa (Canada) is committed to educating both children and adults to break the cycle of poverty for good.
Children living at Project Canaan attend Project Canaan Academy, a Christ-centered school offering a complete learning path from preschool through high school. The academy provides not just academics, but also compassionate, individualized support for children with learning challenges, physical disabilities, and trauma-related behavioral issues. Every child is given the chance to thrive—emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually.
Education doesn’t stop with children. Adults working on Project Canaan receive vocational training in trades like carpentry, mechanics, beadwork, and agriculture, equipping them with valuable skills to build better futures. In addition, the El Rofi Medical Center provides health education on critical issues such as HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, and child protection—empowering the community with both knowledge and care.
From classrooms to clinics, Heart for Africa (Canada) is building a more informed, equipped, and hopeful generation.
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Testimonials
How You Can Help
Join us in bringing hope where it's needed most
Donate
Fuel hope every day. Your gift helps feed children, provide medical care, offer education, and create jobs for families in need. Every dollar makes a difference.
Volunteer
Lend your hands and heart. Whether you help at a local event or offer your skills remotely, your time and talents help us move the mission forward.
Events
Join fundraising events in your community or host your own to raise awareness and support for the children and families of Eswatini.
Trips
Serve on the ground in Eswatini. Experience life at Project Canaan by joining a mission trip. Help build, teach, plant, and connect directly with the lives you’re changing.
Building a Sustainable Future
From Crisis Response to Long-Term Resilience
At Heart for Africa (Canada), we believe true impact lasts beyond today. While we continue to provide urgent care for Eswatini’s most vulnerable, we are also working toward a bold vision: to make Project Canaan fully self-sustaining by 2030. That means every meal served, every child educated, and every job created will be supported through resources generated from the land itself.
Our sustainability efforts are rooted in three core pillars:
1. Environmental Sustainability
We care for the earth that cares for us. From solar-powered facilities to greenhouse hydroponics, water conservation, and composting systems, we are reducing our environmental footprint while feeding and supporting our growing community.
2. Economic Sustainability
With 18 trade-focused buildings on site, Project Canaan generates income through produce, dairy, woodworking, and artisan goods. These initiatives not only reduce operational costs, but also create real employment for local families—impacting thousands of lives.
3. Social Sustainability
Sustainability is about people. We invest in the next generation by providing education, vocational training, and leadership development—equipping both children and adults with the tools they need to thrive and lead.
3. Social Sustainability
Sustainability is about people. We invest in the next generation by providing education, vocational training, and leadership development—equipping both children and adults with the tools they need to thrive and lead.
Take A Tour
Meet the Children
LOWER CAMPUS
Middle CAMPUS
Upper CAMPUS
Our Partner Organizations
We are thankful for the organizations who walk alongside Heart for Africa (Canada) to develop Project Canaan and to provide HOPE for the orphans and vulnerable children in Eswatini.
