By Phesheya Ian Kunene
MBABANE -They’re stitching hope, weaving dignity, and now, with a powerful boost from Standard Bank Eswatini, the Vukani BoMake Project is set to soar.
The bank has donated a generous E50 000 to the grassroots initiative, which empowers rural women through sustainable fashion and business.
The donation, announced today (Tuesday, 20 May 2025), was confirmed by Nomawethu Jonga, Acting Head of Brand & Marketing at Standard Bank Eswatini, who said the partnership aligned with the bank’s commitment to inclusive growth and meaningful impact.
Jonga explained that the decision to back Vukani BoMake was guided by the bank’s broader purpose to drive Eswatini’s development forward. “We’re not just donating money, we’re sowing seeds of hope and transformation. When women rise, communities don’t just survive, they thrive,” she said.
The Vukani BoMake Project, affectionately known as VBP, was launched in 2020 by the Business Women Eswatini (BWE) Committee as a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its humble beginnings, it has grown into a bold, eco-conscious initiative that empowers unemployed rural women, youth and people living with disabilities (PLDs) by giving them a real shot at economic freedom.
At the heart of VBP are cottage factories, small but fully equipped manufacturing spaces powered by clean water and electricity. These factories are operated by beneficiaries and specialize in upcycling waste fabric into wearable goods, proudly living up to the project’s motto: “Turning trash into treasure.”
From face masks to reusable sanitary pads, baby clothes to swimwear, and even accessories like earrings and handbags, the range of products made by these skilled hands continues to grow, along with the confidence of the women and youth behind the sewing machines.
VBP has already attracted an impressive list of clients, including Days For Girls, Bantwana, PnP Stores Eswatini and OK Foods Eswatini. It has also drawn the attention of major partners like the UNDP, UNFPA, ITC, Catalyze Eswatini, MTN Foundation, the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs and the Manzini Municipal Council.
Reacting to the latest partnership, Vukani BoMake expressed heartfelt appreciation. “This donation is more than just a cheque, it’s a message to every rural woman that her work, her worth and her wellbeing matter. We’re deeply grateful to Standard Bank for believing in our dream and choosing to walk this journey with us,” read their statement.
What started as a pandemic-era lifeline has become a full-fledged empowerment movement. Participants who once struggled to make ends meet now speak of independence, ambition and economic participation.
With the recent launch of the Vukani Youth arm, which focuses on trendy items like bralettes and swimwear, the project continues to evolve, but organisers say the hunger for skills development and training remains high.
As VBP eyes the future, it welcomes more partners to join the mission of reshaping Eswatini’s economic landscape, one stitch, one woman, and one life at a time.
