Zakhele's Future
Donation protected
I am Kevin Mallinson and I am raising funds to help Zakhele Thwala start his own business to feed his family and pursue further education. Zakhele lives in the Kingdom of Eswatini [formerly known as Swaziland]. Eswatini has the highest rate of HIV of any country in the world; even today, too many Swazis die of HIV, tuberculosis, or malnutrition. Zakhele is highly motivated to improve his life.
For many years, Zakhele freely gave his time to support American nursing and public health students that I brought to his country. Also, his outgoing nature and positive outlook were always welcome to the many nurses who traveled to Eswatini with my Nurses SOAR! program. Many of my ANAC colleagues helped to build the capacity of nurses to combat the HIV epidemic. Zakhele has also provided unconditional support (food and material support) to his mother and grandmother as well as other family members. Now, he needs our help.
My husband and I brought Zakhele to the USA for 4 years so he could earn his BS in Economics from the George Mason University in Virginia. He graduated in 2018 and returned home, determined to obtain employment and pursue his graduate degree in Economics. Unfortunately, Eswatini has experienced a very high unemployment rate (more than 25%) that only became worse with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Zakhele remains unemployed. He has developed a business plan to create his own business to sell safely packaged portions of beef and pork. He will need these funds to make initial purchase of the cattle and pigs. He will also need to obtain the necessary refrigeration equipment to keep the meat fresh, and buy an auto to transport it to various regions of the country. This will bring affordable, fresh beef (and pork) in a sanitary way to people in rural areas. Zakhele will start this scalable business that will also benefit those Swazis in rural areas who cannot easily obtain safe protein sources.
With this business, Zakhele will be able to feed himself and his family. He will be building the business so that he can save funds to pursue his Master's degree in Economics that is necessary for him to have a stable job into the future.
I ask that you support this effort to help Zakhele build his business. He is trying hard to make his life better in the midst of difficult circumstances. It is my hope that he achieves his dream of being successful in a career that may improve the overall economic environment in Southern Africa. Thank you for your support! Kevin
For many years, Zakhele freely gave his time to support American nursing and public health students that I brought to his country. Also, his outgoing nature and positive outlook were always welcome to the many nurses who traveled to Eswatini with my Nurses SOAR! program. Many of my ANAC colleagues helped to build the capacity of nurses to combat the HIV epidemic. Zakhele has also provided unconditional support (food and material support) to his mother and grandmother as well as other family members. Now, he needs our help.
My husband and I brought Zakhele to the USA for 4 years so he could earn his BS in Economics from the George Mason University in Virginia. He graduated in 2018 and returned home, determined to obtain employment and pursue his graduate degree in Economics. Unfortunately, Eswatini has experienced a very high unemployment rate (more than 25%) that only became worse with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Zakhele remains unemployed. He has developed a business plan to create his own business to sell safely packaged portions of beef and pork. He will need these funds to make initial purchase of the cattle and pigs. He will also need to obtain the necessary refrigeration equipment to keep the meat fresh, and buy an auto to transport it to various regions of the country. This will bring affordable, fresh beef (and pork) in a sanitary way to people in rural areas. Zakhele will start this scalable business that will also benefit those Swazis in rural areas who cannot easily obtain safe protein sources.
With this business, Zakhele will be able to feed himself and his family. He will be building the business so that he can save funds to pursue his Master's degree in Economics that is necessary for him to have a stable job into the future.
I ask that you support this effort to help Zakhele build his business. He is trying hard to make his life better in the midst of difficult circumstances. It is my hope that he achieves his dream of being successful in a career that may improve the overall economic environment in Southern Africa. Thank you for your support! Kevin
Organizer
R Kevin Mallinson
Organizer
Washington D.C., DC