MANZINI YOUTH CARE

INCOME Generation
Eswatini kitchen | honey | friends of myc and salesians | SAPPAS

Eswatini Kitchen

In the early 90's donors were beginning to look further afield than Africa . Many more disaster areas, man-made a nd natural, were attracting the sympathy and funds of developed countries. At this stage MYC was still very dependant on donor funds and the management felt that the only way that the project was going to survive was to become self sufficient and they decided to start some income generating activities. Eswatini Kitchen was set up following a feasibility study undertaken by an Australian volunteer in 1991.

Through the efforts of Fr Larry McDonnell and Sr Judith Dean, the factory was built and set up with funding from Canadian donors and the Salesians. Equipment was purchased from a factory which closed down in Durban . Initially four women were employed, who tried out various recipes and sold them to the local shops. The same Australian volunteer assisted the factory until 1994, sourcing markets, including the Sun Hotels, gift shops, restaurants and catering packs for University and schools, eventually landing one of biggest markets to date - Oxfam. Eswatini Kitchen is now a thriving commercial enterprise producing a delicious range of Swazi jams, chutneys, atchars, and sauces.

Importantly, it is also the primary income generating project for Manzini Youth Care. The factory employs 25 full-time women, (mostly from disadvantaged backgrounds, supporting 3 to 8 dependants on their income), as well as providing a good market for local small farmers who produce the raw material which include: mangos, peaches, Kumquat, pineapple, papaw, marula, guava, orange and grapefruit. The jars of jams and chutney are also sold in presentation packs of grass baskets with a carved wooden spoon. Therefore, Eswatini provides income for nearly 400 rural women who make the baskets in their homes, as well as 20 handicapped people who carve the spoons. Up to 20 seasonal workers are employed from time to time for a period of 3 - 6 weeks, to assist with peeling and preparing the fruit and vegetables. An Irish volunteer, Michael Cox, with a background in income generation and business, assisted Eswatini Kitchen to really get off the ground and the business experienced a 100% growth rate in 1996 and a further 100% growth in 1997. Today the factory is doing very well and is able to fulfill its main goal of income generating activity to support MYC and the upkeep of the street children in the homes. The project also aims to provide employment and income for disadvantaged people in Swaziland .

The business enjoyed a very successful year in 2002, adding 2 new customers to its impressive list of export markets. Oxfam Belgium and John Riches, Scotland joined 11 other international retailers (in Switzerland, Canada, America, Holland, France, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, England and South Africa) to sell these quality Swazi products. One of the highlights of the year was an extensive education program sponsored by Oxfam, enabling the 25 women who work at Eswatini Kitchen to attain either their 0 level (high school) or standard 5 (primary school) education. This academic opportunity enabled one staff member to go on and apply for a place at the University of Swaziland , where she is now enrolled in an Economics degree. On the production side of the business, we congratulate Eswatini Kitchen on their 2002 quality control rating of "Excellent" conferred by C.S.I.R, in conjunction with a 100% pass rate (no rejected stock) for their exports. This is a critical measure in the competitive and strict controls demanded in the export market.

Kitchen Summary

1991 Eswatini Kitchen

Eswatini Kitchen is the primary income generating project for Manzini Youth Care. The factory employs 25 full-time women, (mostly from disadvantaged backgrounds, supporting 3 to 8 dependants on their income), as well as providing a good market for local small farmers who produce the raw material which include: mangos, peaches, Kumquat, pineapple, papaw, marula, guava, orange and grapefruit.

The jars of jams and chutney are also sold in presentation packs of grass baskets with a carved wooden spoon, which provides income for nearly 400 rural women who make the baskets in their homes, as well as 20 handicapped people who carve the spoons.

Up to 20 seasonal workers are employed from time to time for a period of 3 - 6 weeks, to assist with peeling and preparing the fruit and vegetables.

Today the factory is doing well and is able to contribute significantly to its primary goal of financial support for Manzini Youth Care and the associated goals of employment and income for disadvantaged people in Swaziland .

A highlight in 2002 was Oxfam's education sponsorship, enabling the women at Eswatini Kitchen to attain their high school or primary school certificate. This academic opportunity enabled one woman to achieve a place at the University of Swaziland , in an Economics degree.