PDI: Field Annual Impart Report 2020-2021

FIELD ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT JULY 2020 - JUNE 2021

Serving Rural Communities in the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland) www.PossibleDreams.org

FIEL D ANNUAL IM PAC T RE PORT: JULY 2020 - JULY 2021 www.facebook.com/possibledreamsinternational

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The purpose of this Impact Report is to share the activities from the field with our Possible Dreams International (PDI) community. This provides greater transparency of our work and its impact on the rural communities of the Kingdom of Eswatini. We hope this report aids current and prospective donors to better understand the activities we have delivered, the people accessing our services and the opportunities we are planning for the year ahead.

Despite the challenges faced from the pandemic, PDI remained committed to serving vulnerable communities in rural Eswatini.

Highlights of this year included building three new homes, completing 15 toilets and delivering 30 mattresses to those in need. Many of our Income Generation Projects (IGPs) were successfully adapted to the current circumstances, continuing to empower vulnerable women and families with a steady source of income. We were able to respond to an increasing demand for emergency aid for vulnerable families out of work due to the pandemic; providing essential food, medical assistance and baby formula for those in need. Fortunately, our small organisation continued to receive support from our beloved community to withstand the impacts of this pandemic. hello@possibledreams.org www.possibledreams.org PO Box 4303 Wantirna South VIC Australia 3152 TABLE OF CONTENTS: • Executive Summary

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• How Your Dollar Helps People

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• Summary Of Our Programs

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• Reflections From The Field Team On Our Programs

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• Conclusion 13

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HOW YOUR DOLLAR HELPS PEOPLE

95 Cents Of Every Dollar Goes Directly To The Communities We Serve We believe every dollar entrusted with our organisation to support vulnerable rural communities in the Kingdom of Eswatini should be spent preciously. We are proud to report that 95 cents of every dollar you donate goes directly to the communities we serve.

HOW WE SPEND YOUR DONATIONS

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SUMMARY OF OUR PROGRAMS

Our dual aid and sustainability model of care nested within a larger all encompassing principle of honouring human dignity which informs the way the two project categories aid and sustain are conducted at every level.

STREAMS AID

SUSTAINABILITY

DIGNITY

PROGRAM NAMES Delivering essential food: Mealie-Meal (MM) Program

DESCRIPTION Provides monthly emergency food relief to people in need

Daily Emergency Medical Fund

Assists unwell people living in poverty with transport, medication expenses and consultation/admission fees at the Hospital.

Maternal Child Health Fund

Provides financial support for infants who have lost their mothers to HIV/AIDS. This fund also helps mothers who cannot breastfeed and are unable to afford formula.

Soup Kitchen

Preparing daily meals for vulnerable elderly people and those living in poverty. The Matsetsa soup kitchen also has a vegetable garden looked after by volunteers. It’s grown to become a community centre of entrepreneurial grandmothers.

Housing Project

Building permanent, secure houses for vulnerable elderly people, women and children orphaned by AIDS

Income Generating Projects

Encourages and supports MM Program recipients to begin an income generating project. This empowers these clients to become self-sufficient so they can eventually end their reliance on receiving essential food supplies

Handicraft Project

A successful outcome from the Soup Kitchen is this project which encourages the vulnerable elderly clients to generate savings from selling handcrafted projects

Sitsatsaweni Farming Project

PDI acquired land in Sitsatsaweni to grow maize and other crops. This produce is harvested and used in the Essential Food program and the Soup Kitchen to support the sustainability of these Aid projects.

Education - Scholarship Fund

Funds school fees, books, bus fares and school uniforms for both boys and girls. These young people would otherwise be out of school.

Dignity Project Home Assistance

Provides comfort and care to people living with AIDS, terminal illness, disability or frail, elderly people

Sanitation Project

Employing local people to build pit latrines (toilets) and provide sanitation education to reduce the burden of disease

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REFLECTIONS FROM THE FIELD ON OUR PROGRAMS

1. MEALIE- MEAL PROGRAM The Mealie Meal (MM) Program continues to provide monthly emergency food relief to people in need in the Lubombo region. This initiative remains one of PDI’s major emergency aid programs since the charity’s establishment twelve years ago in 2009.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased demand for food relief. Jobs have been lost in huge numbers with unemployment levels skyrocketing. In June 2021, Eswatini was experiencing its third (and worst) COVID-19 wave, bearing the full force of the Delta-variant. This has further increased demand for emergency food relief.

On average, 44 families received MM packs from PDI each month. This is a significant increase from the average of 28 families per month that received MM from PDI in the 2019-2020 financial year.

The demographics of the beneficiaries of the program have changed due to the pandemic. Typically, grandmothers (Gogos) caring for orphaned children make up the majority of MM beneficiaries. Currently there are many people who have lost their jobs due to closure of workplaces due to the pandemic.

NUMBER OF FAMILIES:

44

NUMBER OF ADULTS:

91

NUMBER OF CHILDREN:

105

TOTAL BENEFICIARIES: 196

ACHIEVEMENTS: • Sufficient funds were raised to allow us to continue to distribute MM packs, despite challenges in fundraising during the pandemic.

• Similar to previous years, maize from the Sitsatsaweni Farming Project supplemented our MM packs.

CHALLENGES: • High rates of unemployment as a result of the pandemic has increased the need for our services.

• Several COVID-19 outbreaks and frequent lockdowns with limited notice made it challenging to plan delivery of MM packs. Despite this, the team was able to provide increased numbers of packs while staying safe.

• Food security is at further risk due to drought which has impacted some areas of Eswatini.

• There are concerns that the pandemic will increase the number of orphans in Eswatini, with higher mortality rates in adults, limited vaccination coverage (~15% of population in June 2021) and Delta variant causing widespread effects in the community.

OPPORTUNITIES:

• Backyard gardening has become increasingly popular during the pandemic. We are actively encouraging families to continue to establish small home gardens to improve food security and reduce reliance on emergency relief. For those with access to larger areas of land, we would like to assist them with seeds and tractor costs to allow them to cultivate their own maize. However, given the current drought, this has proved challenging this year. If good rainfall is predicted next season, the team will consider expanding this project to improve food security.

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REFLECTIONS FROM THE FIELD ON OUR PROGRAMS

2. DAILY EMERGENCY FUND

3. MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH FUND

The Daily Emergency Fund assists unwell people living in poverty with transport, medication, medical tests, outpatient consultation and hospital admission fees at the Good Shepherd Hospital (GSH). This allows referred clients to access responsive and affordable healthcare when needed. This year saw the numbers of beneficiaries decrease slightly but more needed assistance with paying for hospital admissions.

The Maternal Child Health (MCH) Fund financially supports infants who have lost their mothers to HIV/ AIDS. It also supports mothers who cannot breastfeed and are unable to afford formula. In this program, providing baby formula means a child receives continued support for six months. The MCH Fund covers costs of hospital admission (or covers the gap when families cannot pay the entire bill) and formula.

NUMBER OF ADULTS:

71

TOTAL BENEFICIARIES: 4

NUMBER OF CHILDREN:

22

(OTHER FAMILIES WERE REFERRED TO CARITAS)

TOTAL BENEFICIARIES: 93

CHALLENGES:

CHALLENGES:

• Some hospital bills are expensive.

• Funding lengthy hospital admissions proved to be expensive at times, especially given more assistance was required this year than in previous years. In such circumstances, PDI engaged with the hospital to discuss splitting the bill (with the hospital) or paying the fee in instalments.

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REFLECTIONS FROM THE FIELD ON OUR PROGRAMS

4. DIGNITY PROJECT

5. HOUSING/ EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM

The Dignity Project was established to provide comfort and care to people living with AIDS, terminal illness, disability and/or elderly people. Unfortunately our usual activities of personal hygiene, washing clothes and house cleaning had to be suspended due to the risk of COVID-19 transmission to the PDI team.

The Housing Program was established to empower families by providing essential, practical and safe housing. This program remains one of PDI’s flagship activities.

Despite this, the project managed to help significantly more clients than previous years due to our purchase of 30 mattresses. Instead of sleeping on thin mats, the mattresses provided 11 families with a much more comfortable night’s sleep!

TOTAL BENEFICIARIES: 30

OPPORTUNITIES: • There are many more families who sleep on a thin mat but cannot afford a mattress. We hope that further fundraising campaigns will allow us to provide more mattresses to many more people.

Three two-bedroom houses were built and completed during this financial year. This means a total of 16 people from 3 families now have a safe shelter to call home. One of the houses was built for a child-led household, the eldest child relying on transactional sex to make ends meet.

PDI also provided assistance in housing repairs for several homes including two families affected by Cyclone Eloise.

NUMBER OF HOUSES BUILT IN FY2021: 3 TOTAL NUMBER OF HOUSES BUILT SINCE PDI’S INCEPTION: 35 TOTAL NUMBER OF WATER TANKS SINCE PDI’S INCEPTION: 26 TOTAL NUMBER OF TOILETS BUILT (WITH HOUSES) SINCE INCEPTION: 29

CHALLENGES: • There is still a large number of families needing assistance with adequate shelter. The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the importance of this need.

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REFLECTIONS FROM THE FIELD ON OUR PROGRAMS

5.1 SANITATION PROJECT The Sanitation Project aims to address the lack of basic sanitation in the Lubombo region by building pit toilets. The need for improved sanitation has been further highlighted by the pandemic.

A grant for 14 pit toilets and hygiene education workshops within the community was implemented this year. The pandemic presented challenges to the delivery of this project with frequent lockdowns and difficulty obtaining building materials. Despite this, we were able to complete a total of 15 toilets by the target date.

NUMBER OF TOILETS BUILT: NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES:

15 111

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REFLECTIONS FROM THE FIELD ON OUR PROGRAMS 6. INCOME GENERATING PROJECTS Income Generation Projects (IGPs) were initiated to empower MM recipients to generate an income, become self-sufficient, and then be discharged from the MM Program. This would free resources and enable other families to access the program. Families/individuals are encouraged to propose an IGP that harnesses their skills while meeting a need in their community. The PDI team considers the viability and assesses potential issues of the proposed IGP. Barriers to starting an IGP include poor management of finances, remote location and/or a lack of product demand.

Over the past few years, PDI has commenced an increasing number of larger group IGPs, rather than the traditional single family IGP. Overall, the group IGPs have higher success rates with Amandla Project and Magwanyana Chicken Project being the most successful thus far. There are a total of seven successful IGPs currently running.

NUMBER OF IGPS

(INCOME GENERATING PROJECTS): 7

TYPE OF IGPS

(INCOME GENERATING PROJECTS): • Sewing items including school uniforms, face masks and ‘aprons’ • Raising livestock including chickens, pigs and goats • Growing maize, vegetables, and other crops • Selling snacks and homemade food items • Handicraft projects including sleeping mats, bags

ACHIEVEMENTS: • The Sewing Project has adapted in response to the pandemic. Instead of making school uniforms, this group of sewers switched to face masks and Tidziya (similar to an apron - a piece of cloth worn over your main clothes when performing housework). They’ve also started raising pigs, tapping into the increased demand for pork.

• Both chicken and pig raising projects have continued to be successful. The team assists the clients with the transportation of animal feeds when required.

CHALLENGES: • The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has seen some IGPs not being able to operate or only being able to operate at a reduced capacity.

• Reduced number of students attending schools means IGPs selling snacks at schools and IGPs selling school uniforms have had to adapt.

• Unfortunately there has been increasing amounts of stock theft, especially of goats, which has affected many of our goat IGPs.

OPPORTUNITIES: • Vary the IGPs and establish Mobile Money IGPs for those who are in areas which have no Mobile Money.

Mobile Money (the ability to store, send and receive money electronically linked to a mobile number) is always in demand.

• We are looking into increasing the capital for our clients, allowing a substantial IGP to gain more profit.

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REFLECTIONS FROM THE FIELD ON OUR PROGRAMS

7. SOUP KITCHEN The Soup Kitchen was established in 2017 following a successful crowdfunding initiative in 2016. It continues to provide food to vulnerable elderly people in the Matsetsa area. Before the pandemic, it was also an important social space where community members would socialise and make handicrafts together while waiting for food. COVID-19 restrictions now only allow beneficiaries to pick up their food and take it back home to eat. Despite restrictions, clients still contribute by taking turns tending to the vegetable garden and gathering firewood for cooking.

7.1 HANDICRAFT PROJECT Within the Soup Kitchen, The Handicraft Project was started to encourage the bogogo (grandmothers) and bomkhulu (grandfathers) to create handcrafted projects which can be sold to generate income. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, many participants now do their handicrafts at home.

A fencing project initiated by a group from the soup kitchen, was suspended due to the pandemic this year. We have recently purchased a fence-making machine for the group so they can implement their orders next financial year.

The number of participants in this program fluctuates. During the pandemic, children commonly collect the food from the soup kitchen for their grandparents. Children are increasingly reliant on soup kitchen meals for food as lockdowns have closed most grades of school (where they are provided lunch).

NUMBER OF GOGOS (GRANDMOTHERS): 24 - 35

ACHIEVEMENTS: • Vegetable Garden at the Soup Kitchen • The resourceful collection of firewood by the bomkhulu (grandfathers) cuts costs from our budget • Handicrafts Projects (Grass sleeping mats, traditional necklaces and skirts, bags) • Selling egg-laying nests for chickens (Tilulu) • Fencing project recommencement

CHALLENGES: • Clients are no longer able to socialise at the soup kitchen due to pandemic restrictions.

• Several people have passed away due to complications of COVID-19.

• With the closure of schools, children no longer have lunches supplied at school. This means they are increasingly reliant on the soup kitchen meals for sustenance.

OPPORTUNITIES: • If schools are not reopened soon, increasing the soup kitchen budget to provide more meals for children would be beneficial.

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REFLECTIONS FROM THE FIELD ON OUR PROGRAMS

8. SITSATSAWENI FARM PDI acquired land in Sitsatsaweni to grow maize and other crops which can be used for the MM Program and the Soup Kitchen. This farming project aims to increase self-efficacy within the community. This farm began from a crowdfunding initiative in 2017.

The past season started well, however, there was decreased rainfall as time progressed.

The team planted beans this season, but unfortunately the crop was decimated by insects despite appropriate insect-control measures.

ACHIEVEMENTS: • We harvested 25 x 50 kg bags of maize this financial year. This is an increase from last year’s harvest of 17 x 50 kg bags of maize.

CHALLENGES • The early disappearance of rain left us with a less than expected harvest. In response, more fields were cultivated.

• The bean plantation was not as successful as we had hoped due to pest damage.

OPPORTUNITIES: • We hope to improve the bean harvest next season by planting beans in a different area and performing soil testing prior to plantation.

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REFLECTIONS FROM THE FIELD ON OUR PROGRAMS

9. SCHOLARSHIP FUND In 2019, a scholarship fund was established with support from former United States Peace Corps Volunteers who had worked in Eswatini several years ago. This fund aimed to support girls, particularly orphans, who are vulnerable to intergenerational, transactional sexual relationships to finance their basic needs. In most cases, these relationships have led to girls becoming pregnant, dropping out of school, and/or acquiring HIV. Several surveys found that girls who engaged in transactional sex often came from impoverished families who cannot afford their school fees. With the support of the PCVs, PDI can buy books, school uniforms, bus fares and pay the school fees for these children.

While the scholarship fund was established to mainly support girls, in the last few years, it has been decided that up to 15% of the awardees could be boys.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

• PDI’s Fun Run in May 2021 was successful in raising funds to support an additional five scholarships.

• A total of 15 students were supported this year.

• The program began in the Lubombo region, but now reaches three regions of Eswatini Lubombo, Manzini and Hhohho.

• All but one student was able to progress to the next grade. Unfortunately, one student had to leave school due to a severe heart condition (for which she is now receiving treatment for).

CHALLENGES

• Due to the pandemic, schools have been closed for the past 15 months for all students except those in Year 10 and 12. This means less students were supported this year compared to previous years.

• Despite increasing funding for more scholarships, it was difficult to implement new applications as most schools were closed.

• Many children are unable to fulfill their dream of education due to closure of schools due to the pandemic.

OPPORTUNITIES:

• Once schools resume as usual, we hope to find methods to raise more funds for this program to allow more students to continue their journey of education.

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REFLECTIONS FROM THE FIELD ON OUR PROGRAMS 10. ADMINISTRATION & TEAM MAKING IT ALL HAPPEN The COVID-19 pandemic presented a huge challenge for the PDI team. Frequent lockdowns, rising cost of living and increased demand for our services made it harder to implement our projects. Despite this, we were able to build 3 houses, deliver all MM packs, complete 15 toilets and provide 30 mattresses to those in need.

The Field Team were also able to remain employed which was a big morale boost. This was certainly a challenge during the tough economic times of the pandemic.

Unfortunately, there was a burglary at the PDI office where money was stolen. Luckily the culprit was found and sentenced by police. In response, the team have upgraded COVID restrictions have changed the way the team worked the security system at the office and made active attempts to on a day-to-day basis. Strict adherence to face masks, regular minimise cash kept on the premises. hand-washing and frequent cleaning of the PDI vehicle were There have been widespread impacts on the community due some of the new measures implemented to keep our team safe. to the pandemic. The Eswatini government has reported a 90% increase in suicide rates and threefold increase in genderThe Field Team continues to have 5 key members; two on a related violence. part-time basis and three members working full time. Our accounts manager resigned to pursue a new career path, Due to COVID-related travel restrictions, it has been 2 years but luckily a replacement was quickly found. The field team since the last group of Australian medical students visited remains grateful to our very active Board and International Eswatini. Their trips provide valuable funds, new ideas and Team who continue to find innovative ways to raise funds inspiration for the PDI team to continue to implement new and ensure the fieldwork continues. projects and support pre-existing ones. We hope to resume these once the pandemic improves.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

CHALLENGES:

• The team was able to implement all planned activities The pandemic was a major challenge this year, impacting and projects, despite facing financial constraints the Eswatini community and creating new hurdles for from the pandemic. implementing our projects: • Successfully completing three new homes despite • Commodity prices significantly increased again this frequent lockdowns and supply issues. year in the context of the pandemic and political unrest affecting supply. This has increased costs for • Being able to deliver mattresses to families for this our projects, but also left more families in poverty first time was a highlight. due to rising cost of living.

• Completing the sanitation project grant of building • High unemployment, leading to increased crime, 14 toilets within the planned time frame despite gender-related violence and suicide have adversely significant supply issues. impacted the quality of life for many in the • Providing our community with much needed community. support during challenging times was incredibly • Political uncertainty in June 2021 has resulted in rewarding for our field team. shortages of basic commodities, food and fuel.

OPPORTUNITIES: • We want to continue to look into more avenues for funding.

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CONCLUSION

It was an incredible achievement to implement so many lifechanging projects this year despite challenges of the pandemic.

As we continue to adapt and expand our projects in the current climate, more people in rural Eswatini benefit from our great work. The PDI Team and truck are a symbol of hope for many, and clients are full of gratitude and praise. This is a reflection of the hard work by our International Team and volunteers who tirelessly continue to bolster support and raise funds to ensure the survival of PDI and its projects.

The COVID-19 pandemic’s effects will be long-term on underprivileged communities and the global economy at large, so we continue to be thankful for how our global community’s relentless support allows us to make dreams possible.

All photos have been used with consent from the individual or parent.

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SIYABONGA (THANK YOU)!

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