Ø Activities completed on the farm include the sinking of a borehole, construction of a small weir (small dam), planting and marketing of chilli peppers. A small garden helps provide fresh vegetables for the kitchen and also gives the children a small income from the excess produce. A 5000 bird broiler chicken house has been built by funds raised by Fr Larry McDonnell. It was subsequently discontinued due to lack of water
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The house has been expanded to include
additional dormitories and other facilities to increase the number of resident
orphans from 18 to 32. Fundraising enabling the purchase of a tractor and farm
implements, the purchase of school uniforms, school fees and medical care.
Manzini Youth Care pays the school fees for all the children in residence. The
orphanage occupies the old homestead with new buildings that have been built for
future expansion.
Current make up of household residents
Age Males Females
16-21
4 2
9-15 8 8
Below 9 4 6
Total 32 + House mother
Volunteer family from Australia – Two parents with two children. They will work at the orphanage and farm for the next two years with the aim of making the farm self sufficient from a food perspective, and ideally profit making. It is envisaged that the produce would be sold straight to Eswatini Swazi Kitchens, another project of Manzini Youth Care. This project offers employment to disadvantaged women and well as generates income to assist with running the 6 children’s homes of Manzini Youth Care. Eswatini
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