The Kingdom of Eswatini faces significant social challenges, including substance abuse, poverty, and the breakdown of family structures. As part of our comprehensive strategy to transform the nation, the Teen Challenge Men's and Women's Centers play a pivotal role in restoring individuals to their God-given potential. By offering Christ-centered discipleship programs, these centers help men and women overcome life-controlling habits and reintegrate into society as healthy, productive members. To understand the importance of these centers in our mission to transform Eswatini, one life and one family at a time, read below.
Our Teen Challenge centers are more than rehabilitation programs; they are discipleship centers where men and women are restored to their God-given identities as compassionate followers of Christ, strong parents, and contributing members of society. Through our 12-month residential programs, participants experience a holistic transformation that addresses not only their physical and emotional needs but also their spiritual development.
The Teen Challenge Men’s Center provides a haven of hope for men struggling with life-controlling habits. The program emphasizes discipleship, encouraging participants to engage in spiritual disciplines such as Bible study, prayer, and Christian fellowship. This Christ-centered approach facilitates profound internal change, guiding men back to their roles as compassionate fathers, husbands, and leaders. By restoring men to their God-given potential, we aim to rebuild strong families that form the backbone of a thriving society.
The Teen Challenge Women’s Center, known as Elusitweni, focuses on protecting and empowering women and their children who have suffered from physical or sexual abuse. Since welcoming its first resident in September 2007, the Women’s Center has remained steadfast in its mission to see abuse diminish and families made whole again. By intervening before women turn to destructive behaviors, the program offers a preventive approach that changes the trajectory of their lives. The vision of the Women's Center is not only to restore individuals but to create a culture of Christ-centered empowerment where women lead and nurture healthy families. The program offers a safe environment where women receive physical, spiritual, and emotional care, enabling them to discover healing and freedom in Christ. Through discipleship, these women are restored to their roles as nurturing mothers and community leaders, breaking the cycle of abuse and fostering strong, Christ-centered families.
The Teen Challenge program in Eswatini began in April 1997 as an outreach to youth on the streets. It has since evolved into two fully-fledged discipleship centers — one for men and one for women — providing a pathway to freedom from life-controlling habits. As a fully certified affiliate of Global Teen Challenge, our centers utilize a treatment protocol with a 62-year track record of success in 58 different countries.
The cornerstone of the Teen Challenge program is its Christ-centered, discipleship-based approach. Unlike secular rehabilitation models, which often focus solely on behavior modification, Teen Challenge addresses the root causes of addiction and life-controlling habits through spiritual growth and development. By fostering a personal relationship with Christ, participants experience a transformation that goes beyond external change, leading to long-lasting freedom and restored identity.
The program is a 12-month residential journey designed to guide participants through a structured process of restoration. This includes: