Testimonials
Ncobile Masilela, a 27-year-old woman from Nkamazi, embodies the power of resilience and opportunity. Like many women in her rural community, she faced daunting challenges: being out of school, unemployed, and navigating the pressures of early motherhood with limited access to education on sexual and reproductive health rights or economic opportunities.
Ncobile first participated in WITAD’s outreach programme on sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, and the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV) in 2022. In 2023, she joined the inaugural cohort of the sewing and design programme. Due to her exceptional skills, she qualified as a trainer and mentored 30 additional women. Empowered by her training, Ncobile launched a sewing and design business and seized another opportunity to become an HIV Testing and Counselling peer educator, extending her impact to others in her community.
In 2024, UNDP nominated and sponsored Ncobile to join Eswatini’s delegation at the 7th Youth Connekt Africa Summit in Rwanda. The summit deepened her understanding of the importance of strengthening education and skills development to empower youth in the global economy, as well as the critical role of youth participation in decision-making.
When COVID-19 hit her community, Lomalungelo Maziya recognised an urgent need for protective masks. Using her grandmother’s sewing machine and just E72.00 worth of fabric, she began creating face masks—launching her entrepreneurial journey. Like many aspiring businesswomen, Lomalungelo faced hurdles: limited resources, fierce competition from established brands, and the constant challenge of sourcing affordable, quality fabrics.
In 2022, she participated in WITAD’s rural outreach programme. Through the design and sewing initiative, she honed her technical skills; today, her workshop produces school uniforms, workwear, and church gowns. Eager to grow her business, Lomalungelo enrolled in a digital skills training programme in 2024. This taught her to create business plans, develop financial projections using Excel, and connect with new markets online. Concurrently, cooperative management training equipped her to collaborate with other women entrepreneurs.