Solar-powered radios ignite Eswatini children’s education
A donation of solar-powered radios that broadcast educational programmes has ignited hope among Eswatini children after the closure of schools which interrupted learning early last year. World Vision, with its vision for every child to experience life in all its fullness, donated the solar-powered radios in a pilot programme that targeted 2,600 children in Madlangemphisi, Mkhiweni, Maphalaleni, Ekukhanyeni and Mahlangatsha constituencies.
The broadcasts of educational programmes include information on sexual violence, a vice that World Vision is combating to ensure all children and the youth are safe and protected. This includes sensitising children on how to report such vices.
“This was initiated when schools were closed and children under 10 years not allowed to go to churches", Sibusiso Nhlabatsi, World Vision’s Child Protection, Advocacy and Sponsorship Coordinator said during the donation. "We decided to send out Sunday School messages to children, who can receive them in the comfort of their homes.”
Nhlabatsi further shared that the 50 solar-powered radios distributed in five World Vision Area Programmes encourage interactive learning on topics that include dangers of social media, such as sharing pornographic and other lurid messages.
“The internet never forgets. What you post today reaches millions of people. Some evil people can trace where you are and kidnap you. World Vision encourages every child to be safe and only use internet for research and doing school work instead engaging with strangers”, he warned.
World Vision and other partners are implementing the 'It Takes Eswatini to End Sexual Violence against Children' campaign, as part of its global 'It Takes A World to End Violence against Children' campaign. There is a discussion session after every radio broadcast that ensures messages received are understood and internalised.
“We thank World Vision for taking us through these lessons”, shared Temalangeni, one of the children benefitting from the radio programme.