Publications - Towards a Better Future: Improving Educational and Health Outcomes for Boys and Girls in Swaziland

Towards a Better Future: Improving Educational and Health Outcomes for Boys and Girls in Swaziland

Towards a Better Future: Improving Education and Health Outcomes of Boys and Girls in Swaziland Despite being a signatory of the Millennium Development Goals, Swaziland still struggles in achieving results related to social development outcomes. According to the United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) Human Development Index, Swaziland ranks 140 out of 187 countries. With a life expectancy of less than 49 years of age, an estimated adult HIV/AIDS prevalence rate (ages 15-49) hovering around 26 percent and net secondary school enrollment ratios for boys and girls corresponding to 31 and 26 percent respectively, Swaziland’s youth face formidable challenges in attaining success during their adult lives.

To address these barriers towards development, CEDPA designed the Towards a Better Future: Improving Educational and Health Outcomes for Boys and Girls in Swaziland project as an extension to its long-standing work in the region since 2007. With an overall goal of improving the educational and health outcomes of boys and girls, ages 10-14 years, in Swaziland, the objectives of the project were outlined to expand the life skills curriculum for boys and girls, strengthen the technical and institutional capacity of centers to implement life skills programs, and enhance community support.