Mbabane – Ten international student volunteers from the United States and Canada have arrived in Eswatini to help implement a community water project in the Lubombo Region, in a partnership bringing together Cornell University, Western University and local development partners.
The students were officially welcomed at the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development’s conference office on Monday, ahead of their visit to Manyovu High School where they will support the implementation of the kaNgcamphalala Community Water Project.
The welcome engagement brought together senior ministry officials and project partners including Principal Secretary Thab’sile Mlangeni, Deputy Director of the Microprojects Programme Coordinating Unit Khetsiwe Simelane, and Engineers in Action WASH Project Manager Patrick Mette. 
Mlangeni welcomed the students on behalf of the government and expressed appreciation for their willingness to travel across continents to contribute to community development in the country. She said access to clean and safe water remained one of the key priorities in improving the quality of life of communities, particularly in rural areas, and commended the partnership between the Ministry, Engineers in Action and the universities represented by the students.
She said the project goes beyond infrastructure, directly contributing to improvements in health, education, sanitation and socio-economic opportunities within the community. She added that the involvement of young people in development work demonstrated the importance of global partnerships, volunteerism and knowledge exchange in addressing developmental challenges.
Simelane described the initiative as a critical intervention focused on one of the most essential human needs, saying she was excited about the continued collaboration with Engineers in Action and the support from the international student volunteers. She noted that the project would benefit the 191 learners at Manyovu High School as well as the surrounding community.
Funded by Engineers in Action at a cost of E640,000, the kaNgcamphalala Community Water Project aims to improve access to clean water for the community and support educational development at Manyovu High School. The project is expected to benefit learners, teachers and community members by providing a reliable water supply while also creating opportunities for practical agricultural learning and sustainable community development.
During their stay, the students will work closely with community members and project teams to support the implementation of the water project.
