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.
13 FIEL D ANNUAL IM PAC T RE PORT: JULY 2020 - JULY 2021
