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Swaziland February - April 2010
A Visit to Swaziland Rural Preschools


The purpose of this visit was to distribute educational materials to rural preschools on behalf of Micro Steps, which focuses on delivery of educational school supplies to under-served rural preschools. Before the regional workshops, 63 preschools (four of which were repeat visits), with a total enrollment of 1550 children and 63 teachers were visited. Later, at the southern regional workshop there were 70 teachers and at the central regional workshop, 138 teachers. The total number of schools which benefited were 271.

The Tender Years, A Guide and Reference for Preschool Teachers was printed and shipped ahead of time. The chalkboards and other supplies were ordered and delivered in advance. As can be imagined, this saved time and enhanced efficiency in distribution.

The following was accomplished during this trip:
Since we had fewer books than the number of teachers at the workshops, many teachers went away without any. However, seeing their enthusiasm to have the book, gives us an idea of the need   to reprint more for subsequent visits, depending on the availability of funds. There is also a great need for chalkboards which were also fewer than the number of preschools represented.



Presentation of The Tender Years at regional workshop

Presentation of The Tender Years at regional workshop


The appreciation for the reference guide by Mrs. Frances Fletcher was expressed by many teachers. They pointed out that it makes their job much easier as it empowers them with the knowledge and confidence they need to teach the children. They were also appreciative of the chalkboards and the children music.

A teacher testifying to the usefulness of The Tender Years

A teacher testifying to the usefulness of The Tender Years



Shiselweni Regional Workshop, 70 teachers

Shiselweni Regional Workshop, 70 teachers



Some teachers receiving The Tender Years

Some teachers receiving The Tender Years


The inspectors had creative ways to present the chalkboards. An example: they had a quiz whereby a teacher who answered all the questions correctly, received a prize. In another instance, they presented one teacher for offering her free time to show me to remote, hard to locate preschools, which I would not have found on my own. In yet another situation, they looked for a teacher that was exemplary, loving and encouraging to the children and punctual at her job. I thought this approach gave some incentive to other teachers.


Chalkboard presentation at regional workshop

Chalkboard presentation at regional workshop II



Chalkboard presentation at regional workshop

Chalkboard presentation at regional workshop



A surprised teacher jumping with joy on receipt of a chalkboard

A surprised teacher jumping with joy on receipt of a chalkboard



Teachers at the central region workshop

Teachers at the central region workshop



Teachers in group discussions by areas

Teachers in group discussions by areas


Photograph of chalkboards, books and other supplies



The Early Childhood Care and Development division of the Ministry of Education was doing surveys of all preschools in Swaziland because they plan to have them registered to regulate the way they are run and operated. I understand that they have plans to strengthen early childhood education and keep track of all the preschools around the country. I was invited to to see more preschools in the eastern region and distribute The Tender Years and other supplies. Through the workshops and national preschool survey, Micro Steps was able to reach more teachers to present The Tender Years, chalkboards, children music and other supplies.

I  discovered a community preschool in the Hhohho region where a young lady was desperate for teaching materials and had no funds to purchase them. When she received The Tender Years and other supplies, she was touched and very appreciative of everything she received. It never ceases to amaze me how passionate and dedicated these teachers are to give the children an educational foundation for which they mostly don't get paid anything unless it's a private preschool.


Children singing, Hawane Community Preschool

Children singing, Hawane Community Preschool


The children in this video are happy, hopeful and have dreams like any child would. If one looks at their school building made of traditional “stick and mud” that seems to be falling apart, has no windows except an opening for one, their radiant faces and joyful singing voices makes one realize how oblivious and detached they are from their environment and circumstances. For them, this is their school, that's where they go to learn, play and be children.


Machegwini Preschool children singing about trains from a mine to a far away place and reciting rhymes about the moon and the stars

Machegwini Preschool children singing about trains from a mine to a far away place and reciting rhymes about the moon and the stars


The school building on the photograph below is made from iron roof sheets,  and these can be extremely hot in summer and very cold in winter. The efforts by these teachers to have some structure (no matter how rudimentary) to make a school where children can learn, is miraculous, especially because they offer it as  a service to the community. This particular teacher has to go some distance to fetch water and carry it on her head for the children to drink and wash their hands.

School building made of  roof sheets


Teacher carrying drinking water and hand-washing)



Below is a list of some preschools visited on this trip:


Teacher in rudimentary builing, Kandinda

Teacher in rudimentary builing, Kandinda


Inside the preschool building


Video children singing happily, Kandinda

Children singing happily, Kandinda

Preschools visited continued:



Children singing happily, Masundvwini


Preschools visited continued:

A rhyme about a tree, a hill and the ground, Nhlambeni


Preschools visited continued:

Children singing, Mini Fruit Preschool


Preschools visited continued:

Children on Swings, Motshane 



Singing and Rhyme


Preschools visited continued:
Children at play.



Children at play on big tire.



Preschools visited continued:

Children on swings at Little Pearl Preschool



Children on swings at Little Pearl Preschool


Preschools visited continued:

Donated playground equipment



Preschools reached through the regional workshops were 208.

Below are additional videos that I'd like to share from the trip:

Vote of thanks for The Tender Years at regional workshop



Highlights of this trip:
Ntondozi students digging the car out of a ditch


Video of Ntondozi students after they dug the car out of a ditch.

Interview about general aspects of the trip


Interview with Makhosazana about general aspects of the trip


Next Plan of action:

If there are any questions, comments or clarification needed, please feel free to contact us.
Thank you,

Makhosazana Fletcher, for Micro Steps, Groveland, California

Summary Statistics - Swaziland 2010 Q1 Service Project 

Students affected by distributions and training

9540
Schools where materials were given

299

Teachers given The Tender Years  (preschool teacher training manual)

200
Schools where chalkboards were given.
 20
Schools where audio materials (songs) were distributed. (Red Grammer)

160

Total students / teachers effected

9811

Institutions affected

+-300

Total cost

$14,987.76

Cost per affected student / teachers:

$1.53

Makhosazana Fletcher
July 2010