…marathon supports children’s education
…fourth edition launched in mankayane
…stakeholders urged to partner
… church urged to serve communities
BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MANKAYANE— The road to the finish line is often measured in kilometres, but for the Highway Education Foundation, every step taken in the Highway Half Marathon 2026 is expected to carry a child closer to a brighter future.
This was the message from Highway Education Foundation President Prophet Sabelo T. Khumalo as he officially launched the fourth edition of the Highway Half Marathon at Highway Covenant Tabernacle Church in Mankayane on Thursday.
Held under the theme “The Winning Year”, the marathon is more than a sporting event for the Foundation, which is using the initiative to raise awareness and rally support for its mission of helping disadvantaged children access education.
Khumalo said the Foundation, established in 2012, was built on the belief that while education changes lives, opportunity gives education a pathway.
“Our vision is to build a bridge to a world of opportunities for the Swazi child,” he said.
The Foundation’s mission is to provide educational interventions for disadvantaged children through funding school and tuition fees.
Khumalo said the marathon therefore represents a movement that seeks to bring together businesses, government, churches, schools, traditional leaders, athletes and communities in investing in children.
He challenged stakeholders to view each kilometre of the race as carrying a message that children deserve investment and that education is a shared responsibility.
He also emphasised the role of the Church in community development, saying churches should extend their impact beyond their buildings and into the communities they serve.
“The church must move from the pulpit into the community,” he said.
According to Khumalo, the Church should not only preach compassion and hope but demonstrate these values by creating opportunities, strengthening families, empowering young people and contributing towards healthier communities.
He further called on Mankayane residents to embrace the marathon as their own, saying its success would not only be determined by the number of runners crossing the finish line, but by the number of lives moved forward.
The launch brought together representatives of Athletics Eswatini, the Mankayane Town Board, corporate partners and sponsors, community leaders, athletes, young people and church members.
Khumalo thanked the event’s partners, including main corporate partner Montigny Investments, Guest of Honour Sipho “The Big Fish” Makhabane, Athletics Eswatini and the Mankayane Town Board.
He said the Foundation hopes the marathon will ultimately become a bridge to education, opportunity, healthier communities and a better future for the Swazi child.
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