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Poverty

Over 50% of the population lives below the national poverty line and makes less than $2/day.
LIVE BELOW THE NATIONAL POVERTY LEVEL
0 %
ESTIMATED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
0 %
SWAZIS EMPLOYED AT PROJECT CANAAN
0 +

How to Overcome Poverty in Eswatini, Africa

Our Poverty Initiative is focused on expanding employment to lift people out of poverty, providing income and supporting our community through job security. Over 400 people are currently employed at Project Canaan. On average, each Swazi provides for 7 family members, which means over 2,800 people are directly impacted in our surrounding communities.

The vocational aspect of Project Canaan includes the opportunity for training and the promise of hope. Hope for a living wage, employment and the ability to care for family. Work gives us purpose. It nurtures dignity and self-worth. It can mean the difference between babies left on the side of the road and a family that remains intact.

Lusito Mechanics at Project Canaan

LUSITO MECHANICS

The Lusito Mechanic Project started in 2009 and was our first poverty initiative. This initiative was established to train men and women from surrounding communities to be mechanics and welders at Project Canaan, in partnership with Mercy Tech Mission

The Lusito Mechanic Shop enables Project Canaan to reduce our operational expenses by repairing our own vehicles, while contributing to our overall sustainability by generating revenue from work done for our neighbors, communities and other farms surrounding us. It also provides Swazis with a valuable and marketable skill set much needed in surrounding communities and offers employment that breaks the cycle of poverty and pays a living wage.

Mercy Tech Mission is a Canadian non-profit committed to decreasing poverty by bringing skills and training to communities in need, primarily in Third World Countries. 

Artisan holding beaded elephant in Eswatini

Khutsala™️ Artisans

Khutsala™ Artisans (Khutsala meaning “hard working” in siSwati) is one of our initiatives to provide employment for women and men from all over Eswatini. Each employee receives training in multiple areas including, but not limited to, bead craft, wire-framing, jewelry making and ceramics.

100% of the profits from Khutsala™ sales go towards caring for the orphans and vulnerable children on Project Canaan.

120+ people are currently employed at Khutsala™ Artisans. As each Swazi provides for 7 other family members on average, over 770 people in the surrounding communities are supported through Khutsala Artisans. The more people who shop Khutsala™, the more Swazis we can provide employment to, the greater the impact on our community – it makes a huge impact.

The vocational aspect is 2-fold: It provides the opportunity for training and the promise of hopeHope for a living wage, consistent employment and the ability to care for family in a country underwhelmed with employment opportunities. Work gives us purpose. It nurtures dignity and self-worth. Each artisan is proud of their high-quality work, knowing that they are providing for their families and contributing to the care of the children at Project Canaan.

Khutsalan Artisan Holding Charcuterie Board Handmade in Africa

kUFUNDZA CENTER

The Kufundza Center was built as an opportunity to provide training and employment, while also producing products needed on Project Canaan. Men and women are able to move through various levels of training and apprenticeship, gaining important certifications.

They produce baby cribs, children’s beds and other pieces of furniture used on Project Canaan. We have also expand our training and employment reach by producing hand crafted charcuterie boards and other wood products, sold at Khutsala™ Artisans.