Monday, October 20, 2025 by Zinhle Matsenjwa

 

Mbabane, Eswatini: From September 9 to 25, the Helping Other People Expand (HOPE) Foundation marked a powerful milestone in its flagship youth empowerment initiative by delivering the first phase of its transformative training programme focused on digital skills and financial literacy for emerging entrepreneurs.

This pilot programme, launched earlier in September at Endibanweni American Corner, is designed to equip 20 youth from Mbabane East Constituency including Sidwashini, Msunduza, Fonteyn and Mdzimba with the tools, networks and strategic mindset needed to build sustainable investment-ready businesses.

Phase one: Digital skills for the future

The first pillar of the training centred on digital skills facilitated by leading subject matter experts and industry players who have earned credibility in Eswatini’s digital ecosystem. The HOPE Foundation’s collaborative model brought together government, private sector and Mandela Washington Fellowship alumni to deliver high-impact sessions tailored to the realities of youth-led enterprises.

A standout moment was the specialised training on Artificial Intelligence (AI) delivered in partnership with the Ministry of ICT under the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP). This session introduced participants to practical AI tools that can revolutionise business operations, marketing and financial planning.

Key AI training topics included:

• AI for Business Automation: Inventory management, chatbots and workflow optimisation
• AI in Digital Marketing: Targeted advertising, content generation and analytics
• AI for Financial Intelligence: Predictive budgeting, fraud detection and investment planning
• AI and Climate Innovation: Climate-smart agriculture, waste management and energy efficiency
• Ethical AI and Data Privacy: Responsible AI use and digital compliance

In addition, Mandela Washington fellows from the 2023 and 2025 cohorts facilitated sessions on social media marketing and search engine optimisation (SEO). Youth participants learnt how to leverage digital platforms for targeted outreach, brand visibility and ethical engagement, ensuring integrity remains central to their online business practices.

MTN Eswatini also joined the effort, showcasing its Digital Skills Academy and guiding participants on how to use the platform to enhance operational efficiency and market access.

Phase Two: Financial literacy and access to capital

Building on the momentum, the HOPE Foundation has now launched the second pillar of the programme, focusing on financial literacy. This phase is designed to demystify financial systems and empower youth with budgeting, reinvestment strategies and funding readiness. Old Mutual Eswatini led sessions on personal and business budgeting while EswatiniBank presented a suite of opportunities available to youth entrepreneurs.

A standout moment was the specialised training on Artificial Intelligence (AI) delivered in partnership with the Ministry of ICT under the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP).