BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
MBABANE – The Marydee Isibuko Serenity Foundation (MISF) has announced five fully funded international scholarships provided by The NGO Whisperer Centre for Social Impact in the United Kingdom, marking a significant milestone in the foundation’s commitment to developing Eswatini’s community leaders.
The scholarships were unveiled as part of MISF’s 10th anniversary celebrations and are dedicated to strengthening leadership within the country’s social development sector. They will be awarded to the top five overall winners of the Eswatini Marydee Prestigious Community and Social Impact Awards 2025. Each recipient will participate in a seven-month Global Fellowship Programme designed to equip leaders with advanced skills in governance, advocacy, strategic leadership and sustainable project implementation.
This initiative falls under a newly signed five-year Memorandum of Understanding between MISF and The NGO Whisperer Centre for Social Impact. The agreement, formalised in Manchester and spanning 2025 to 2030, commits both organisations to nurturing exceptional individuals who are already making measurable contributions to their communities. The partnership aims to build long-term capacity, enhance social innovation and elevate Eswatini’s local changemakers onto influential international platforms.
In celebration of MISF’s 10th anniversary, five scholarships are being awarded this year. From 2026 onwards, the overall winner of the annual awards will receive one scholarship along with a complimentary entry ticket to The NGO Whisperer Global Summit, held annually in Manchester. This summit provides a prestigious international platform where social impact leaders from across the world gather to exchange knowledge, build strategic networks and champion community-driven solutions. Attendance at the summit will remain a key benefit of the scholarship for the next five years.
The five scholarship recipients for 2025 will graduate in person during the 2026 Global Summit in Manchester. During this event, they will be honoured for their leadership journeys and celebrated for their commitment to sustainable community transformation.
The Memorandum of Understanding was officially signed by Dr Carolyne Opinde, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The NGO Whisperer Centre for Social Impact, and Dudu M. Dube, Founder and President of MISF. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of the Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, Honourable Skhumbuzo Dlamini, demonstrating the government’s support for initiatives that strengthen community development and leadership excellence.
MISF explained that the Global Fellowship Programme for Leaders is delivered virtually and includes intensive training modules tailored for individuals working within community-based organisations. The course aims to build practical competencies that can be applied directly within Eswatini’s social development landscape.
The 2025 overall winner, Tryphina Mvubu, has already commenced her training and represented Eswatini at the 4th edition of the Global Summit held from 4 to 5 November 2025, with post-summit activities continuing until 7 November. Her participation exemplifies the immediate impact and opportunities created through this partnership.
MISF expressed its gratitude to The NGO Whisperer Centre for its commitment to strengthening Eswatini’s social impact sector. The foundation stated that this collaboration will inspire future leaders, promote innovation and reinforce the country’s presence on global platforms dedicated to social transformation.
(
Courtesy Pic)
