Mission Statement

Manzini Youth Care provides holistic Christian care in meeting the basic needs of food, shelter, education, training and life skills to marginalised young people at risk through poverty. Guided by Salesian values of reasonableness and kindness, Manzini Youth Care supports young people in their spiritual and social development.

Founder Father Larry McDonnell
Founded 1978
Number of beneficiaries Approximately 1500 young people served each year

The Salesian inspiration

In 1978 MYC was started as a community service project by the boys of the Salesian Secondary School in Manzini, in response to the growing numbers of street children in Swaziland . It was a controversial project, as there was a wide belief that street children did not exist in the context of Swaziland 's culture of extended family.

Humble beginnings

Children were taken off the street and housed in the disused mortuary rooms of St Teresa's mission, with the primary intention of re-integrating them back into their family. As basic requirements of food, shelter and clothing were met, other longer term needs surfaced for education and training. Through his association with the original Salesian project, Father Larry McDonnell assembled a local community committee to establish Manzini Youth Care (MYC).