Where We Work
Skillshare International Ireland currently has programmes in Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Swaziland. See Our Programmes to see our projects in each country. Click on a link below or scroll down for country information and contact details for Skillshare International's offices in each of these countries.
Botswana | Lesotho | Mozambique | Swaziland | Southern Africa regional office | Other
Botswana
Botswana shares its borders with South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The total area is 581,730 square kilometres, 77% of which is covered by the Kalahari Desert. Botswana has a population of 1.7 million (2004 National Census), so there is a low-density population spread especially outside the capital Gaborone in the south of the country, which has a population of around 160,000. It is a politically stable, democratically ruled country, which gained independence in 1966. Tourism is becoming increasingly important and is concentrated around the Okavango Delta region in the north. Botswana is a relatively wealthy African nation. However, affluence tends to be concentrated in urban areas and does not reach the rural villages, where many people still have to walk several kilometres for water. The richest 20% of the population has 59% of the country's wealth, while the poorest 20% has just 4% of Botswana's total wealth. The rate of unemployment in Botswana is around 15.8%. Due to the AIDS epidemic, life expectancy at birth has reduced from 67 to 47 years. The overall HIV prevalence rate is 19% of the general population, but rises to 36% in the 15-49 age group. UNDP estimates that there are 85 new infections every day and that 60% of youth have no access to youth-friendly reproductive health services. Projected orphan population by 2010 is 159,000-214,000 (20% of all children in Botswana).
Skillshare International, PO Box 471, Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: +267 395 2284 Fax: +267 39 5 7784
Email: botswanainfo@skillshare.org
Lesotho
Lesotho is an independent Kingdom in Southern Africa, and is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Commonwealth of Nations. Before gaining independence from Britain in 1966, Lesotho was known as Basutoland. The "mountain kingdom" covers an area of about 30,355 square kilometres, and is totally surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. According to UNDP figures, about 80% of the 2.14 million population lives in rural areas. In 2000, Lesotho introduced a comprehensive programme for Free Primary Education resulting in increased primary school enrolment. The country has one of the highest levels of adult literacy on the continent at 81.4% (Human Development Report: 2004). However, for generations many boys have worked as herd-boys from as young as five or six years. This has been a challenge for the Government to raise low rates of educational achievement among males and reverse this traditional practice of child labour.
The textile industry in Lesotho employs more than 40,000 people and the country depends on garment production for 29% of its GDP. Global textile companies were originally attracted to Lesotho with the offer of infrastructure, a cheap but literate labour force and tax incentives. It has however contributed to the lack of progress in making safe drinking water available for many people in Lesotho. Of all the challenges facing the country, none is more urgent than the HIV and AIDS pandemic, which with an estimated adult prevalence of 23.2%, has a devastating impact on individuals, families, communities and society as a whole. HIV and AIDS related deaths have affected the national economy and led to increased household poverty. The UN estimates that the prevalence rate among women is 51% compared to 28% for men. The staggering number of AIDS orphans forms a crisis of enormous proportions. With Lesotho having the fourth highest incidences of HIV and AIDS in the world, this problem is increasing; over 100,000 children under 17 have lost at least one parent.
Read Development worker strengthens government campaign to cut HIV and AIDS in Lesotho Phomolong Support Group
Access to Health Care in Lesotho
Irish Aid country information
Skillshare International, PO Box 269, Maseru 100, Lesotho
Tel: +266 22 314 202 Fax: +266 22 310 156
E-mail: lesothoinfo@skillshare.org
Mozambique
Mozambique shares borders with Tanzania to the north, South Africa and Swaziland to the south, Zimbabwe to the west and Zambia and Malawi to the north-west. It covers an area of 801,600 square kilometres and its official language is Portuguese. Mozambique has a population of 19.1 million and in 2003 UNDP estimated the HIV prevalence rate among 15-49 year olds to be 12.2%. Average life expectancy is 41.9 years. The Mozambican war of independence was fought 1964-1975, followed by a civil war 1977-1992, both having a negative effect on the economy and services for the Mozambican population. There is currently a substantial inflow of foreign investment to rebuild the economy of the country. Focus has been on transforming industry, mining and food production. Tourism is also one of the new developments being revived, resulting in cross-border conservation projects such as the Great Limpopo Park (which connects South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique) and the Libombo Initiative (between South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique) being established. These programmes are generating substantial income and providing jobs for locals, hence contributing to stabilising Mozambique's economy. Political stability and sound economic policies have encouraged recent foreign investment. As most other countries in the region, Mozambique faces the threat of the HIV and AIDS epidemic, high rates of unemployment, illiteracy, high rates of crime, and lack of skilled personnel.
Read Kindlinmuka Sewing Project for people living with HIV/AIDS
Skillshare International, CP 2634, Maputo, Mozambique
Tel: +258 21 309 710 Fax: +258 21 303 602
E-mail: mozambiqueinfo@skillshare.org
Swaziland
The Kingdom of Swaziland shares its borders with South Africa and Mozambique, and covers an area of 1,734 square kilometres. It is a low middle-income country with an annual per capita income of about US$1,350. However, 69% of the population live below the poverty line (of which 63% are females and 37% males) and survive on less than US$24 per person per month (2004 UN figures). Poverty indices also show that women are the worst affected in Swaziland and as such, female-headed homes account for the highest number of poverty stricken families. Swaziland has one of the world's highest rates of income inequality, with the top 10% of the population controlling 40% of wealth, while the bottom 40% of the population controls only 14% of the wealth. The unemployment rate increased from 22% in 1997 to 29% in 2001, and among young people has often been twice as high. Government and private sector efforts to create new jobs have not been able to keep up with the loss of jobs arising from erosion in Swaziland's comparative advantages as an investment destination, and recent changes in global trading rules threaten a further loss of jobs. In 2006, the HIV and AIDS pandemic remains one of the greatest barriers to human development in Swaziland. At the end of 2005, UNAIDS estimated that over 33% of the adult population were living with HIV and AIDS. Estimated HIV prevalence amongst women attending antenatal clinics rose to an unprecedented 42.6% in 2004 according to UNDP figures. HIV and AIDS statistics vary, and according to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office around 43% of the population is living with HIV. In 2003, there were an estimated 17,000 HIV and AIDS related deaths. There are currently an estimated 69,000 orphans and vulnerable children in Swaziland and it is also projected that there will be 120,000 by 2010.
Skillshare International, PO Box A129, Mbabane, Swaziland
Tel: +268 404 3476 Fax: +268 404 3128
E-mail: swazilandinfo@skillshare.org
Southern Africa Regional Office
Our regional office for Southern Africa is in Pretoria, South Africa.
Skillshare International, Postnet Suite No. 429, Private Bag X15, Menlo Park 0102, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
Tel: +27 12 362 5116 / 1131 / 5968 Fax: +27 12 362 1834
Email: regionalinfo@skillshare.org
Skillshare International
126 New Walk, Leicester LE1 7JA, UK
Tel: + 44 (0) 116 254 1862 Fax: + 44 (0) 116 254 2614
E-mail: info@skillshare.org
Web: www.skillshare.org
Click here for road map
Click here for railway station directions and 'where to park' map.
We have also supported the Skillshare programme in other countries, including:
Botswana | Lesotho | Mozambique | Swaziland | Southern Africa regional office | Other
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