Summertime fun is finally in season. With warm weather and much-needed sunshine, you can hang out at the beach, have a family barbeque, vacation at the lake, or sit on your favorite restaurant's patio to enjoy the fresh air and nice breeze.
During this time of year, there are plenty of activities for you to do. For the most part, the options are limitless, so you can write down just about anything that you want to try. But before you finish planning all of the activities you want to knock out this summer, there's something fun and purposeful that you may want to add to your to-do list: supporting children in Eswatini, Africa.
While this doesn't sound like your typical summer activity, it's one that you can enjoy with friends and family. Even better, supporting children in Eswatini can help make your summer meaningful.
If you're someone who likes to go on vacation to make memories with loved ones or enjoys summer nights by having small get-togethers, then chances are, you love to infuse meaning into their summer activities. You don't just want to enjoy the warm weather and sunshine. You want to have memorable experiences that you can look back on with a smile.
Supporting children in Eswatini will allow you to achieve that goal. By doing three fun summer activities, you can assist young boys and girls who need a helping hand.
Why you should support children in Eswatini
Before diving into the summer activities you can do to uplift children in Eswatini, it's important to know why you should help. After all, if you don't know why you're doing something, you can't attach any meaning to it, so it's critical to understand the reasoning.
Put simply, there are over 200,000 orphans in Eswatini, a problem that this small southern kingdom is struggling to manage as it battles other challenges like hunger, poverty, and barriers to education. Many of the Swazi children who are orphans are malnourished and at extreme risk of dying, which is a reality that COVID-19 has made even more problematic.
Out of the 347,000 Swazis who are facing acute food shortages, 180,000 of them are children and are in need of immediate humanitarian aid. Research also shows that 60,000 Swazis have reached emergency levels of hunger, meaning they could starve to death without assistance.
Job losses, erratic rainfall, and high food prices that have become common during the pandemic are all reasons for these figures. However, these numbers don't take into account the many orphans who are also in need of assistance.
If there are currently over 200,000 orphans in Eswatini, then there aren't just 180,000 children facing extreme levels of hunger because of COVID-19. Instead, there are at least 200,000 more who are also facing starvation.
These orphans are usually found beside rivers, roads, and trash. They're alone and without protection and have either been abandoned because their parents died from HIV/AIDS, which is most prevalent in Eswatini. Or their parents have left them because they don't have the financial resources to care for them.
Either way, both circumstances are extremely difficult for any child to go through, especially for newborns who can't run away when a threat is approaching. And it's because of situations like these that there's an immediate call for people to help support and uplift the children in Eswatini.
Summer activities that help support Swazi children
Khutsala Artisans, a Heart for Africa initiative, is doing everything it can to support Swazi children that have been abandoned by their parents. One of the primary ways that Khutsala Artisans helps is by giving all of its profits to Heart for Africa, a faith-based humanitarian organization that does a myriad of things to help Eswatini, like having children's homes for boys and girls who have been orphaned or abandoned.
These homes provide food, medical care, clothes, toys, access to a good education, and most importantly, love and security from people who care about kids. With the profits from Khutsala Artisans, Heart for Africa can buy the things their children need as well as around-the-clock care from "aunties" who are Swazi adults with a heart for children.
Of course, Khutsala Artisans couldn't support the kids at Heart for Africa without its amazing customers who are equally passionate about making a difference in the lives of Swazi children. If you're someone who'd like to contribute to Khutsala Artisans' efforts, you can jump on board by starting with three summer activities that are easy to enjoy with family and friends.
If you have a green thumb, then you probably know that gardening is good for the soul. Hanging out in nature, getting your hands dirty, and soaking up the sunshine are great ways to relax and enjoy the summer.
However, if you're looking for new ways to beautify your garden, you need to get Khutsala Artisans' Daisy Garden Stakes. Available in pink, green, red, purple, and white, these handmade garden stakes contain 2,921 beads.
They're perfect for adding a colorful touch to your flower pot, outdoor plant, or garden. And each beaded daisy is attached to a 15-inch stake, but you can cut it to your desired length.
Buy the Daisy Garden Stakes HERE.
A picnic at the park, beach, or grassy area by the lake is always a good time, especially when you come prepared with Khutsala Artisans' Charcuterie Board. This handmade item is made from bloodwood trees that are native to Southern Africa.
These trees are beautiful because they ooze a mesmerizing dark red colored sap as soon as you cut the tree. In fact, it almost looks like the tree is bleeding, which may sound creepy, but it's a remarkable sight that gives the charcuterie board a unique, bright color.
With this item at your side, everyone can enjoy your summer picnic. The charcuterie board is big enough to fit different meats, veggies, cheeses, fruits, nuts, crackers, and sweet treats like chocolates. Whether your loved ones are vegetarians or not, a charcuterie board can have something for everyone to eat.
Buy Khutsala Artisans Charcuterie Board HERE.
There's nothing better than wine night on the patio with a few loved ones. Throw in a couple of games and some barbeque, and you're in for a real treat.
But to make your experience that much better, decorate your wine glasses with fun charm sets that are handcrafted by Swazi artisans. There are multiple sets to choose from, each one coming with six beautiful charms, and they all have different themes.
What's also cool about these charms is that each one is made with SwaziMUD beads that are hand-rolled and glazed by the talented workers at Khutsala Artisans, giving you a uniquely designed set that you can enjoy all of the time.
Buy the Wine Glass Charms Set HERE.
Find meaning in your summer activities
Summer is a time to enjoy warm weather and fun activities that are perfect for the outdoors. It's a time to hang out with loved ones and make memories that will last forever.
At Khutsala Artisans, one of the things we want to remember this summer is our contribution to those in need, and specifically, the children in Eswatini who will benefit from our profits. We encourage you to come along for the ride and buy a product from Khutsala Artisans to enjoy the summer activities listed above. By helping out, you'll have one more memorable summer activity underneath your belt.
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