In September I have the amazing opportunity to visit Swaziland with Challenge Ministries.

One of the projects I feel particularly impacted by is the work of the Health Care team. They specialises in running rural clinics, supporting the 'In Community By Community' community developments, providing first aid training and basic hygiene education.

As one of the 10 smallest countries in Africa, the HIV/AIDS population is higher than any in the world, the effects of this has significantly reduced the number of adults, the average life expectancy here is 47 (2015). With so few parents, teachers and doctors in the country, many children have to fend for themselves, emotionally, educationally and medically.

As a teacher and young adult in England with vast amounts of educational resources and reliable adults in my life, it pains me that the same opportunities aren't afforded to the children of Swazi because of the reduced number of healthy adults. By raising money for the Health Care Team, I hope that life spans may be extended, saved and protected, with the long term goal of ensuring there are enough adults to raise the future children of Swaziland. (A huge venture that I can only hope to help in anyway.)

To raise money for this venture I have challenged myself with an open water swim. On Saturday 18th August, I will be swimming the 1.5 mile stretch of sea between Eastney Swimming Pool and South Parade Pier. As a pool swimmer the challenge of open water will vastly differ from my normal, comfortable pool surroundings!

Your sponsorship for this challenge is so meaningful, not just to me but to the futures of children in Swaziland, whose educational experience (I can only hope) will be more extensive due to having more teachers and caring adults in their lives to guide them. 100% of your donations* to my challenge for Challenge Ministries will go to sourcing and providing medical resources in Swaziland.

* Donations lost through processing fees, will be made up by me.

https://cmswazi.org/health-care/