Sukumani boMake - Women, Stand up and be Counted 

Gone Rural is a Swazi handcraft company inspired by women weavers, using creativity and design to ignite change on a community level through ethical, handmade products.   

Gone Rural works with over 750 women artisans in rural communities whose knowledge of human rights is limited. The passing of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act in 2018 was a significant milestone in the advocacy of women’s rights in Swaziland, as previously there was no framework to protect people from domestic violence and sexual assault. 

This project will inform women artisans of their rights in relation to the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act 2018 and empower women to share this information with their communities. In the long term, this information can help lead to an increase of reported cases and decrease in sexual offences and domestic violence. 

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: 

• develop relevant training material about the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act 2018 
• mobilise the community for training
• deliver training across 13 rural communities. 

Gender-Based Violence Strategic Planning and Advocacy Development Project - The Eswatini Gender-Based Violence Charter 

The Eswatini Gender-Based Violence Charter, spearheaded by Kwakha Indvodza, seeks to encourage individual and institutional commitment to fight gender-based violence in Eswatini.  

Eswatini has a robust policy and legal framework for dealing with gender-basedviolence, particularly following the enactment of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act in 2018. However, the rates of gender-based violence continue to be high and have been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

To date, the Charter has targeted leaders in various sectors, encouraging them to ensure that their institutions instil a culture of zero tolerance for gender-based violence. This project will extend this work to community leaders nationwide. 

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: 

• determine 12 communities to sign on to the Eswatini Gender-Based Violence Charter 
• deliver gender-based violence sensitisation sessions to at least 360 community leaders and decision-makers
• gain an additional 1,000 online or in-person signatures of the Gender-Based Violence Charter
• deliver an Eswatini Gender-Based Violence Charter Social Media Campaign

Organisational Development Driven by Storytelling and Mapping Technology Use in Rural Communities 

Gone Rural supports over 750 artisans across Eswatini to sell their produce to a broader consumer group.  

The organisation needs to make its business more relevant to consumers in a technologically driven world, where communication with stakeholders needs to be clear, concise and visual.  

Currently all ordering and processing is done manually and face-to-face. Gone Rural is looking to improve its storytelling to increase sales and incorporate technological solutions to improve operating systems.  

This project will collect in-person interviews, photography and video content for marketing. It will also map access to technology among the artisan groups, such as smart phone ownership, internet coverage and usage of cell phone technology. This will create an understanding of the feasibility of implementing software to improve operational processes.  

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will:  

• design data collection tools such as a digital survey and interview guide 
• collect data through in-person interviews, photography and video
• compile and analyse data and develop a strategic plan for the technological development of Gone Rural. 

Impending pandemic: testing and impact mitigation support of eSwatini's COVID-19 response 

Kwakha Indvodza will provide personnel support eSwatini’s national COVID-19 screening and testing processes, and run campaigns targeting men who are at risk of violence or hardship. 

Tintsaba Artisan Relief Fund

Tintsaba Crafts will provide their women artisans with emergency relief funding during the COVID-19 pandemic, to support them with much-needed health, food and sanitation items.