The Eswatini Epilepsy Organization (EEO), under its social security program, has come through for the people living with epilepsy at Timbutini community. The organization took a key initiative in strengthening talents amongst the people affected by the chronic disorder.
EEO has equipped the affected population at Timbutini with the necessary skills to produce handcraft, through training that was facilitated by Make Dlamini who is a local artisan from Timbutini. This training involves the production of various products, using indigenous grass known as lutindzi and recycled material. The established support group consist of twelve (12) members, who are people living with epilepsy. The members of the support group usually share their personal experiences and offer one another emotional comfort and moral support. The items produced by the support group are now ready for market. The support group named their project – Siphilile Handcraft.
The EEO National Director Mr. Mbusomuni Mahlalela and Make Dlamini display one of the finished products.
The EEO established another epilepsy support group in 2016 at Luve where members of the group are also engaging in handcraft. The start-up capital for this project was funded by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE). The group produce decorative products made of fencing wire and beads. Some of the handcraft are ready for market. The main goal of this project is economic empowerment of youth in general and vulnerable youth living with epilepsy in particular. The project also aim to promote epilepsy in the community as well as unlocking constrains to youth enterprise innovation and growth.
Some of the beautiful handcraft on display
In line with its Strategic Plan, Eswatini Epilepsy Organization as part of its resource mobilization programme initiated a greenhouse vegetable garden and dairy farming at Thulwane in 2010. The intervention is a community income generation project which will complement livelihood sustenance efforts by the Thulwane support group. The support group has been affiliated to Eswatini epilepsy organization for 6 years and the project has been made possible through the assistance of Eswatini Posts and Telecommunication Company charity projects.
Thulwane support group grow various vegetables for sale to members of the community. The surplus is distributed among the members of the support group who are people with epilepsy. Each member of the support group is allocated a plot which he/she is responsible to maintain. The support group also breed dairy cows which produces approximately 15 litres of milk per day. The milk is also sold to members of the community at E10 per litres. The dairy farming is more profitable than the vegetable garden. The dairy profits are ploughed back into the sustenance of both projects.
The EswatinE Epilepsy Organization (EEO) was granted E25, 000 by the only giant Cellular Mobile Company in Eswatini, MTN under their corporate social responsibilities (CSR). The Organization had to decide on a viable and manageable project which will benefit those living with epilepsy to have a sustainable life in terms of income generating activities.
Based on the Strategic Plan and Action Plan for the financial year of 2015/16 the Organization ended up buying 20 indigenous goats which will be used as a source of income by the different beneficiaries after complying with the terms and conditions that would have been set by the Organization. The idea behind implementing this initiative was due to the ever increasing number of epilepsy cases and the influx of people coming to the Organization ’s Offices to present their unattainable different needs which ranges from medical expenses and basic human needs.
