Nhlanhla is taking his second year exams. He has moved to Manzini, the biggest town in the country, where he will be doing a work placement in the coming academic year.

I have a new fundraising page. Please pass it on. http://goo.gl/JCFph

A report on Swaziland by the US State Department

A report on the rule of law in Swaziland

Exam time

Nhlanhla tells me that he is currently taking his exams for his Batchelor of Commerce degree.

Recent pics of Nhlanhla

nhlanhla, a set on Flickr.

Here he is in all his glory.

A reference I have written for Nhlanhla

Happy birthday Nhlanhla - 21 today.

Swaziland: Police Trick, Ambush, Beat Students

Swaziland police tricked students into believing they were being escorted to deliver a petition to the government, but instead took them to a road with no exits and ambushed them, firing shots and beating them up.

Media in Swaziland are reporting that about 100 students were forced to flee across the streets of the Swazi capital, Mbabane.

The Swazi Observer reported today (5 September 2012) that the students were part of the on-going Global Week of Action for Swaziland and wanted to demonstrate under the banner 'Relevance of the Education System to the Current Situation'. They wanted to deliver petitions to the Ministries of Labour and Social Security and Education and Training Students and the South African High Commission.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201209050707.html

Swaziland: Armed Police Block Students Protest

Heavily-armed state forces stopped students in Swaziland from marching on government to protest about the non-payment of tuition fees and scholarships.

More than 100 students today (16 August 2012) gathered at the University of Swaziland campus in the kingdom's capital Mbabane, but they were blocked from leaving for about four hours by police and prison wardens. Eventually the students gave up and went home.

The students hoped to march on the Labour and Social Security to deliver a petition concerning a continuing scholarship crisis.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201208170491.html

UNISWA

http://allafrica.com/stories/201208171004.html

allAfrica.com: Swaziland: Nurses Protest Working Conditions

allAfrica.com: Swaziland: Nurses Protest Working Conditions

Picture of Nhlanhla in 2007

Here he is aged 15, when he was in high school. The seated lady used to work for me when I lived in Swaziland. I was a teacher there.

Nhlanhla struggling to make ends meet.

I can no longer afford to support him. I moved to Denmark a year ago mainly for my son's benefit and the cost of living is too high. My mother supported him with a one off donation but that money has now run out.

The cost of food has risen so high now in Swaziland. This small country is in a financial mess and even the IMF has walked out. Neighbouring South Africa pulls all the strings. The government is supposed to give students a student grant but this money, like teachers' salaries, don't get paid.

My motivation in sponsoring nhlanhla, is to make some difference in the long term to the country. I prefer to do this than donating money to a faceless charity. I can see the results. It' s fantastic.

Swaziland: Teachers' Strike Highlights Crumbling Education System

http://allafrica.com/stories/201206290092.html

Swaziland: Govt Fails to Jail Strike Leaders

http://allafrica.com/stories/201207020183.html

allAfrica.com: Swaziland: IMF Walks Away From the Kingdom

allAfrica.com: Swaziland: IMF Walks Away From the Kingdom

allAfrica.com: Swaziland: Teacher Carrying Union Bag Arrested

allAfrica.com: Swaziland: Teacher Carrying Union Bag Arrested

King gets given a jet

http://allafrica.com/stories/201204260855.html

Swaziland: Living On a Meal a Day

http://allafrica.com/stories/201203190245.html

Update on nhlanhla

The student grant has not materialised this year so if I had not continued to support him, he would have starved. Just a fact. I have paid him about an average of 100 euros a month. Prices in Swaziland are similar to south Africa and not far removed from European prices. This is something that people fail to understand. They think that because a sponsored person is in Africa, that they should be able to exist on a couple of dollars a day. These people need to review their thinking. He needs to eat, needs money for transport and money yes, to keep in touch by the internet.

I really think that people in Europe have no idea how people in a country like Swaziland exist. I have tried to fundraiser for the last year or so and frankly I only ever receive promises.