Swaziland

So - My first few blogs will be sharing what I'm learning. Today I'll tell you a little bit about Swaziland. This is a small country about the size of New Jersey surrounded on 3 sides by South Africa. A small strip of Mozambique stands between it and the Indian Ocean (or would that be the Southern Ocean?). It is one of the few remaining kingdoms in existence today - governed by King Mswati, who has 12 wives. SiSwati is their native language, but official business is conducted in English. Swaziland has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa (around 80%).

Economically, the country's average annual income is around $2,400, compared to Texas' $48,000. About 60 percent of Swazis engage in subsistance agriculture growing sugarcane, cotton, corn and other crops for their families as well as raising cattle, goats, and sheep. Because of the easy access to sugar, the Coca Cola Company has located a concentrate plant there. Coca Cola, as you might guess, is responsible for a large portion of their gross domestic product - about 40%.

I found it incredibly interesting that the average life expectancy is 32 - a far cry from our 77 years. (I guess this means I will be a wise elder while I'm there.) This young life expectancy is not a great surprise when you consider that nearly half of the country's population is under the age of 18.

On the health front, AIDS/HIV is their growing concern today. The increase in the number of adults who have AIDS/HIV has created a situation where more than 130,000 children are either orphaned or have parents who are dealing with the disease. Only 62% of their population have access to safe water. Safe water is a critical contribution to the country's health as so many diseases are transferrable through unsafe water systems.

World Vision has been working in the country to help not only feed people through sponsorship and other programs, but also increase the number of households with access to clean water. But for long term sustainable life in the country, the economic engine must also be bolstered. So World Vision is also focusing their efforts on Micro Finance Enterprise helping local entrepreneurs have the opportunity to create work and generate income for themselves and others.

In conclusion, the issues Swaziland faces are significant, but they are not as foreign as we might initially think. Like the Swazis, we place a high value on education, economic stability and diversity so that employment opportunities exist, safe and healthy living conditions and access to food and water. So maybe, we have more in common with the rest of the world than we originally tend to believe.