The social and economic fabric of Eswatini has been profoundly affected by a range of historical, cultural, and economic factors. Traditional family structures have been eroded due to unemployment and extreme poverty causing economic migration, polygamy, and religious practices that often blend Christianity with animism and ancestral worship. While the influence of these factors has long been present, the primary catalyst for the degradation of family structures in recent decades has been the economic pull that drives parents to leave their children with grandparents and seek employment in cities and neighboring countries. To rebuild and strengthen the family unit in Eswatini, we must create real economic opportunities in rural areas that encourage families to live under one roof again. Here are a few of topics that outline the strategic importance of building such opportunities through partnerships to restore and transform the nuclear family and, ultimately, the nation.
The family unit in Eswatini has been disrupted by a variety of socio-economic pressures. The prevalence of polygamy, coupled with a religious backdrop that often distorts the gospel with animism and ancestral worship, has contributed to a pre-existing fault line in traditional family structures. However, the more immediate and significant catalyst for family fragmentation has been economic migration as a result of a weakening economy — the product of a nation with a declining population, the working demographic no less — rising unemployment, and the onset of extreme poverty.
The pursuit of employment in cities and neighboring nations has led to a situation where only 12 to 22% of Emaswati children are raised in homes where both parents are present. This has resulted in a generation of children growing up with their grandparents, or worse — child-led families — in rural areas, while parents live and work elsewhere, often separately. This separation undermines the development of a stable family environment and perpetuates cycles of poverty, instability, and vulnerability.
Traditionally, the term "reunification" has been associated with bringing orphaned children back into family care. However, in this context, reunification is redefined to encompass the restoration of the nuclear family unit. This broader concept involves not only reconnecting orphaned children with their extended families but also drawing parents back to live with their children under the same roof. By achieving this, we can create a foundation upon which to minister and equip families within a biblical construct, fostering stronger, healthier communities.
Given the cultural and economic context of Eswatini, with most children living in rural areas and land rights tied to these communities, the most effective pathway to family reunification involves creating sustainable economic opportunities within rural Eswatini. By doing so, we can encourage parents to return to rural life, thereby restoring the nuclear family and laying the groundwork for broader social and spiritual transformation.
Restoring families in Eswatini requires a two-pronged approach: creating jobs in rural areas and ensuring that these jobs are accessible and viable for parents who have migrated in search of income. Economic opportunities must be real, sustainable, and capable of supporting a family's basic needs. When parents can secure stable employment in rural communities, they are more likely to return and live with their children, which in turn:
The key to creating real economic opportunities lies in strategic partnerships that can bring expertise, resources, and market access to rural Eswatini. By forming partnerships with organizations and businesses experienced in economic development, we can introduce initiatives that provide: