BY PHUMELELE GAMEDZE (INTERN)
MBABANE– A wave of relief has reached vulnerable households across Eswatini after Ackermans Stores stepped in with a substantial donation of children’s clothing and school uniforms valued at E170 000, aimed at restoring dignity and warmth to those most in need.
The support is specifically targeted at children from child headed households and those under the care of elderly guardians, many of whom continue to struggle with basic necessities, particularly during the cold winter season. The donation includes essential school uniforms and warm clothing expected to ease the burden on families who cannot afford even the most basic attire.
The initiative is not new for the retailer, which has maintained a steady commitment to social support in Eswatini. Last year, Ackermans donated clothing to children at the Halfway House and other vulnerable families across the country, reinforcing its role as a consistent partner in community upliftment efforts.
Handing over the donation to Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla, Ackermans representative Musa Fakudze said the gesture reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to giving back and reaching families in distress. He also highlighted additional support in the form of food valued at E12 000 donated to a neighbourhood care point, ensuring children receive at least one nutritious meal a day.
Deputy Prime Minister Dladla expressed gratitude for the intervention, noting that the rising number of vulnerable households requires continued collaboration between government and private sector partners. She shared a personal account from Matsanjeni South, where she encountered a grandmother raising nine grandchildren in harsh conditions without adequate food or clothing.
She stressed that such realities remain a priority for government social protection programmes, adding that donations like these help restore dignity and bring immediate relief to struggling families. “Some of these children are from vulnerable households and during this winter they do not even have proper uniforms such as shoes and jerseys. We do not take this donation for granted,” she said.
Dladla further called for deeper engagement from private sector partners to directly witness conditions faced by vulnerable communities, saying this would strengthen targeted support and long term solutions.
The donation is expected to reach hundreds of children nationwide through established welfare distribution channels, offering timely assistance during one of the most challenging seasons for low-income households.
#ChildWelfare #WinterRelief #EswatiniCommunities #CorporateSocialResponsibility
(Courtesy Pics)
