THE CHILD SAFETY DIRECTOR WHO SOLD US DATES

It is not often that STYLE meets young beautiful women who are engaged in selfless courses.  Often times people are self-seeking in their endeavours. When we met Linda Rego we were impressed by her passion for keeping young children in Swaziland out of harm’s way. She is the co-director of the Swaziland Child Safety Network and this week we decided to feature her in our pages.

The first time STYLE got to meet this woman was at the Mbabane Club a few weeks ago, where we had a brief breakfast meeting to discuss her plans to host an event where Swazi man candy would be auctioned for charity.
The exciting thing about this concept was the fact that it had never been done before in the country and for this reason its novelty captivated our interest. The event was held on Friday at the Mbabane Club and you will be reading more about it in our dailies this week.

Twenty-four-year-old Linda Rego is a University of Pretoria graduate who majored in International Relations with Political Science. Prior to her tertiary education she attended high school at Waterford KaMhlaba, Enjabulweni and Sisekelo. She is the co-director and project coordinator for The Swaziland Child Safety Network.

Speaking about the event they held on Friday, Linda tells STYLE that the objectives are to raise funds to build a centre that will be located centrally for all Swazi schools and the public to access services offered by the network.
The network prevents and reduces child injuries and deaths significantly, according to Rego. They achieve this through programmes they offer that are centred on safety awareness among children, young adults and parents. These services also apply to caregivers.

The Swaziland Child Safety Network was founded in 2014.
Linda raves about how well the network has been embraced by Swazis and also went on to thank those who sponsored their event on Friday. These are Royal Villas, Mitchell’s Bar and Grill, Mantenga Lodge, Ramblas and La Bonita to name a few. These are the restaurants where buyers and the men auctioned at the event will be having their dates.

Rego tells STYLE that there are many more events that the network is planning in order to raise the E40 million they require in order for the centre to become a reality.
Responding to how the centre will be of benefit to the nation, Linda explains that it will provide future generations with access to education on safety as a whole. “It will be a place for them to grow and become aware of the many dangers they may face in their environment and on the roads,” she says.

She goes on to say she had read statistics and she was appalled at how many children and young people lose their lives due to preventable mishaps. “It is heartbreaking,” she adds passionately.
With the 2022 vision being every Swazi’s goal to achieve, STYLE wonders how this centre will contribute to realising the vision.
“It will allow for better and mindful drivers on the roads from a young age,” she says.

STYLE is aware of the fact that among other programmes offered by the network, children are trained how to read road signs and follow basic driving rules through the use of bicycles and go carts on dummy roads. This is an effort to raise responsible drivers who will one day use the lessons instilled at a tender age, once they become recognised as legal drivers.
“Our road safety education will reduce the number of unnecessary accidents on the roads,” she further states.

Speaking about the 2022 vision, she says that working together as citizens of this nation is necessary for us to achieve the goal, especially the future generation, which are the young people.
Rego’s plans for the network are providing better opportunities for young people as well as eradicating poverty throughout Swaziland. “Once I am done doing this in my country, I plan to take my work on the global scale because there is still so much that needs to be done for people out there.”
Her long-term goal is to ensure the network is recognised internationally and is able to lend a helping hand wherever possible.

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