The experience is always real, never put on or choreographed. For this reason, visitors are overcome with the need to assist and to play a more positive role in Swaziland – it touches them very deeply. This year alone two groups of international clients have met the cost of 107 children’s school fees – this is 35% of the pupils in eSitjeni Primary School. Both of these groups were introduced to the community by Big Game Parks.

Big Game Parks started this community tourism initiative around 1995 – before it was a big “buzz word” or fashionable in Swaziland. Since then, Mlilwane has made a considerable contribution to the eSitjeni Community on a monthly basis, sending tour groups and receiving and facilitating sponsorship for the community in various ways.

A German Choir Group known as Voices For Africa have funded the tuition fees for 47 children at eSitjeni Primary School for 2007, along with considerable monthly contributions to feeding over 200 orphaned and vulnerable children.

Last week Grand Circle Travel, an American-based tour operator, donated $5000,00 to eSitjeni Primary School. This substantial donation enabled tuition for 60 orphans attending eSitjeni Primary, from grade 2-7. Grand Circle is a Tour Operator with an incredible sense of social responsibility. A portion of each client’s tour cost is directed to the Grand Circle Foundation, which supports numerous worthy causes across the globe including schools, hospitals, orphanages, museums and historical sites. Each year Grand Circle Foundation carefully selects various projects to support through the funds received from Grand Circle tour costs. As in the case of eSitjeni Primary School, these generous donations are given with strings attached – the children must pass in order to be legible for sponsorship next year, given that the project is seen as worthwhile. The school, teachers, pupils and guardians were asked to take on the responsibility of ensuring the pupils’ best chance for future sponsorship. This year, the eSitjeni Primary School in Swaziland was chosen as a worthy recipient.

On the 15th March 2007, Grand Circle Travel’s official handover to Nkhosikati Mtsetfwa at the school was a very relaxed and emotional affair. A full GCT touring group visited the uMphakatsi as per usual before visiting the school, where they were met by the 60 sponsored orphans and a hand full of their guardians. A board signifying the event was handed to Nkhosikathi Lamtsetfwa and teacher Zodwa Magagula. Zodwa Magagula is a unique individual who has taken the plight of the less fortunate into her own hands, giving her own time and energy to ensure that their lives are enriched in any way possible.

The last straw was a quick peek into the classrooms. This brought tears to the visitors’ eyes, including the GCT guide, Tessa. The group left knowing that they, with the assistance of Big Game Parks, had contributed something meaningful to a little but brave Swazi community