This September, Phumelela reached over 255 people through workshops and provided vital counseling support to 63 clients — deepening our impact in communities across Eswatini.
From sparking powerful dialogues on climate anxiety and youth wellness during the Women and Youth Day commemoration to guiding healing through creative exercises like the Tree with Roots and Leaves, every session reminded us of one truth: healing begins when we come together.
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As part of the Eswatini Youth Network, we continue to collaborate on national youth solutions — linking grassroots voices to high-level strategies for real change.

Now, we invite corporates, NGOs, and financial institutions to partner with us in building a mentally stronger and climate-resilient Eswatini. Together, we can nurture wellness, empower women, and inspire the next generation.

In the current financial year (July 2025 – September 2025), 143 sessions provided comfort, guidance, and hope to 61 individuals. From brief moments of reassurance to in-depth family counseling, every session contributed to meaningful healing.
Each number reflects a personal story of resilience and recovery. From a 10-year-old learning to cope to a 69-year-old seeking renewal, these sessions demonstrate that it’s never too late to heal.
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Be part of this journey—connect with us and help expand the reach of healing and support. Your €5/£4.50/$6/E100 or rand a month ensures one person gets ongoing care. 

During the June 2024- July 2025 period, we experienced remarkable growth and demonstrated substantial impact while strategically consolidating our operations. Despite facing significant national challenges, we continue to tirelessly strive and have become an essential cornerstone of the country's mental health infrastructure.
Demonstrable Large-Scale Impact:
Our initiatives have generated measurable, widespread results that extend far beyond isolated success stories. Through systematic implementation, we have:

• Reached and educated 15,725 individuals through awareness programs
• Delivered specialized training to community leaders and healthcare professionals
• Conducted 554 professional counseling sessions

Growing Demand:
Our success has created unprecedented demand for services, stretching our current capacity. While this validates our approach, it emphasizes the need for sustainable expansion to meet community needs.
Building Trust:
We have earned strong community trust, demonstrated through:

• Increased client referrals
• Successful engagement in challenging environments like prisons
• Recognition as a trusted mental health provider

Supporting Individuals:
The successful launch of the SAHEE project, supporting individuals affected by the US Aid funding cessation, showcased our ability to respond rapidly to emerging community needs.
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As we move forward, Phumelela remains an essential service provider and a strategic partner in building a more resilient Eswatini. Our proven model and demonstrated impact provide a strong foundation for sustainable growth and continued service to our communities.

The SAHEE Mental Health Emergency Intervention Project aimed to support individuals affected by the halt in US Development Aid funding. The project focused on reducing mental distress, preventing mental disorders, and maintaining or improving overall mental health for those impacted. This report highlights the reach and outcomes of the project’s activities.
A key component was the Walk'n'Talk Debrief Session for NGO Directors. This session engaged 21 directors who were under the pressure of funding cuts, facing burnout, and experiencing significant mental strain. The outdoor Walk'n'Talk format, combined with supportive activities in nature, provided a relaxing, therapeutic environment. Participants reported feeling lighter, clearer, and more hopeful after the sessions.
The sessions addressed mental health fundamentals, trauma, stress management, and coping skills. Participants found the content highly informative, with some requesting longer sessions and follow-ups, showing the value they placed on the program. Sharing experiences and realizing others faced similar challenges fostered a sense of solidarity and resilience.
Data from the project demonstrates that the SAHEE Mental Health Emergency Intervention Project effectively provided critical mental health support, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions to reduce mental distress, prevent mental disorders, and promote well-being during challenging times.

 ​Mental Health Support Project Summary - Post US Aid Withdrawal in Eswatini

Following the January US development aid suspension, a mental health initiative was implemented,funded by SAHEE, to support affected individuals and organizations. The project delivered three key services:

1. Individual Counseling Services
- 48 counseling sessions provided to 21 individuals (12 female, 9 male)
- Services delivered both in-person and via phone
- Participants from multiple local NGOs experienced severe mental distress

2. Group Counseling for Community Workers
- 86 community cadres reached through five sessions across three regions
- Sessions conducted April-May 2025
- Topics covered: Mental health foundations, trauma, stress management, suicide prevention
- Focus on coping strategies and emotional support for those who lost their primary income

3. Leadership Support Program
- Outdoor debrief session held at Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary (June 2025)
- 21 NGO directors participated in small-group format
- Addressed VUCA challenges (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) post-funding cuts
- Included therapeutic activities combining nature walks with emotional processing exercises

The program successfully provided mental health support to individuals directly impacted by the aid suspension, from front-line workers to organizational leadership.

The Empowerment Self-Defense Program, funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), has provided nearly 500 adolescents in the Siphofaneni area with knowledge on gender-based violence, mental health, and suicide prevention. This initiative has equipped participants with a deeper understanding of power dynamics, tools to minimize abuse and violence, the ability to recognize threatening situations early, and techniques to end assaults.

The self-defense class has imparted participants with the necessary skills to boost confidence and reduce the risk of sexual assault. Furthermore, they have learned crucial techniques to protect themselves in dangerous situations. Additionally, participants have received mental health support through counseling services.

Gender equality is a fundamental factor in addressing gender-based violence, making it crucial to educate boys and girls about gender equality and gender norms. One of the key topics covered in the Empowerment Self-Defense Program was Consent and Boundaries. Teaching boys about personal boundaries, bodily autonomy, and mutual respect from a young age helps prevent coercive behaviors later in life and instills in them the understanding that "no" means "no." Encouraging boys to recognize, express, and validate emotions fosters empathy and helps them respect others' feelings and boundaries.

The project left participants(adolescents and school administration alike) requesting more, but due to the fact that it was funded for a 5 - month duration, we could not meet the requests. Your contributions can help continue this impactful program. 

​Funded by the UK High Commission in Eswatini, Phumelela, in collaboration with Yebo Art Gallery and Antidote Foundation, developed a mental health booklet. This booklet serves as an introduction to mental health, covering the most common mental health issues relevant to the Swazi people. It explains what these issues are, their potential causes, and the available support (including self-care tips). To enhance understanding, especially for individuals from rural areas, the content was translated into Siswati. A total of 10,000 copies were printed, with 5,000 copies in Siswati and 5,000 copies in English, and distributed to various relevant stakeholders such as civil society groups, refugee camps, the Deputy Prime Minister's Office, churches, and the Royal Eswatini Police Service, among others.

The feedback received was highly positive, particularly for the Siswati version. People from rural areas expressed that they were previously unaware of the Siswati words for certain mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. Consequently, the booklet played a crucial role in introducing these terms into the Swazi vocabulary, fostering a better understanding of mental health within the community.

The FNB Foundation of Eswatini funded the "Serve & Save" gender-based violence (GBV) initiative, which trained bartenders and barbers as psychological first aid responders (gatekeepers) in target establishments. The program aimed to reduce GBV risk, promote prevention and resilience, and aid recovery through targeted advertisements, community-based systems strengthening, mental health services, and alternative therapies like "Walk'n'Talk" counseling sessions at Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary. In total, 664 counseling sessions were conducted, with 82 individuals attending Walk'n'Talk. The digital campaign had 453,768 impressions across Facebook and Instagram. 19 gatekeepers were trained in Manzini town and Ekukhanyeni constituency, reaching 481 individuals, including children.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on the mental well-being of individuals in Eswatini. In response, an initiative was undertaken to raise awareness about mental health and combat the stigma surrounding mental health issues. The campaign encompasses a diverse array of activities tailored to various demographics, with the Open Up Challenge specifically geared towards engaging the youth. Its objective is to inspire young people to openly discuss their mental health challenges and seek assistance. By showcasing videos of influential Swazi youth and staff members candidly sharing their personal experiences with mental health issues, the campaign serves as a powerful testament that mental health concerns transcend all segments of society.

The financial assistance provided by the UK High Commission enabled the organization to mitigate the stigma and dispel the misconceptions surrounding mental illness, while simultaneously bolstering mental health and well-being support for the EmaSwati populace. This was achieved through the deployment of Psychological First Aid community counselors in rural areas, who facilitated mental health awareness initiatives and delivered essential services. These counselors were tasked with providing initial psychosocial support to individuals affected by crisis situations, thereby reducing the likelihood of subsequent mental health issues and complex trauma. Furthermore, their efforts facilitated the early detection of mental health disruptions, enabling timely interventions.

The first episode of our podcast focused on the impact that Gender Based Violence(GBV) has on our mental health. Our  trauma counselor, joined by two guests in the discussion, looked at the many forms of GBV and it's consequences in relation to mental health.

Awarded to us by the Queens Commonwealth Trust, the grant ensured our continued support to some of the marginalized communities in the country which were also affected by the pandemic the most.

We take a look at some of the key factors of suicidal behavior and how to help prevent suicide in different social environments.More information on suicide prevention is available here: bit.ly/35AkLvA

FOOD DISTRIBUTION AT MANGWANENI,MANZINI

Through the Covid 19 Emergency Grants Programme from the Queen's Commonwealth Trust,  we were able to provide food for 70 households which included 20 people living with disabilities.
#fooddistribution #coronavirusupdate #commonwealthtrust