BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
MBABANE – Fresh from making history as the first country in Southern Africa to launch the new Youth Engagement Strategy (YES), the Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society (BERCS) youth wing has received an invitation to participate in this year’s Southern Africa Red Cross Youth Camp in Zimbabwe.
The annual regional gathering, scheduled for September 23 to 27, 2026, will bring together young Red Cross and Red Crescent leaders from across Southern Africa to exchange ideas, strengthen leadership skills and share innovative approaches to humanitarian work.
BERCS National Youth President Thabo Philani Mdluli said the invitation follows the society’s successful participation in last year’s camp, where Eswatini was represented by two youth leaders.
He said the experience demonstrated the value of regional collaboration and inspired the organisation to pursue broader participation this year.
“Last year we attended the camp, and this year we have once again received an invitation. We have approached our senior leadership with a proposal to send outstanding youth representatives from all four regions of the country instead of only one or two delegates,” he said.
Mdluli explained that selecting delegates from each region would allow the knowledge and skills acquired in Zimbabwe to benefit young volunteers across the Kingdom.
“If delegates come from all four regions, each one will return to their respective region and share what they have learnt with other young volunteers. That way, the benefits of the camp will reach many more young people,” he said.
Describing the Zimbabwe youth camp as one of the region’s most valuable youth development platforms, Mdluli said it provides practical lessons that can strengthen humanitarian work and youth leadership in Eswatini.
He noted that Zimbabwe’s Red Cross youth programme has established itself as a regional leader by entrusting young people with leadership responsibilities and creating opportunities for them to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
“When we attended, we saw that Zimbabwe is doing exceptionally well in youth development. Their young people are trusted with responsibility and are making a real impact in their communities. It is important for us to learn from their experiences while also sharing what we are doing in Eswatini,” he said.
Mdluli emphasised that regional exchanges provide an opportunity for National Societies to learn from one another while strengthening the capacity of young humanitarian leaders.
“They may be ahead of us in some areas, but we are also working hard to strengthen youth leadership in Eswatini. By sharing ideas and experiences, we all become stronger,” he added.
He expressed confidence that BERCS leadership would once again support the country’s participation, enabling Eswatini’s youth to proudly fly the national flag and represent the National Society at the regional gathering.
The planned participation comes as BERCS continues to deepen youth involvement in humanitarian action following the launch of the Youth Engagement Strategy.
Mdluli announced that Eswatini had become the first country in Southern Africa, the second in Africa and the third globally to officially launch the new Youth Engagement Strategy. He said the milestone reflects BERCS’ commitment to empowering young people and positioning them at the forefront of humanitarian action.
He added that the strategy was developed through extensive consultations with young volunteers from branch to national level, ensuring it reflects the voices, aspirations and priorities of youth across the country.
#EswatiniPositiveNews #BERCS #EswatiniRedCross #YouthLeadership #YouthEngagementStrategy #ZimbabweYouthCamp
