Causes: AIDS, Children & Youth, Food, Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, Health, International, International Relief, Youth Development

Mission: Young Heroes supports families of AIDS orphans in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). We empower Eswatini’s most vulnerable youth and their caretakers so they may achieve their fullest potential through: life-support grants; healthcare; HIV education, prevention, and care programs; educational support; and gender and economic empowerment programs.

Results: Last year:
• 789 orphans were sponsored with life-support grants; 96% of them are now in school.
• 102 new students were enrolled in our STEP vocational program; 53% of new enrollees are young women.
• We provided HIV/TB/STI testing and counseling to 5,100 children and adolescents, and managed 13 monthly Teen Clubs for 720 HIV+ girls and boys.
• Our WORTH program for female caretakers enrolled 2,600 members over three years. Together, they saved over $150,000 with which to support each other.
• Our Girls' Clubs in Hhohho secondary schools enrolled 3,900 adolescent girls who received education in HIV and sexual/reproductive health; life-skills; and healthy decision-making. RECOGNITION
• Young Heroes Foundation has received a Gold Seal of Transparency from Guidestar.
• We have been presented to UNICEF's Global Orphan Alliance as a best practice that other countries should emulate.
• Khulekani Magongo, our Executive Director in Swaziland, was awarded a Ford Fellowship to study non-profit management at Columbia University.
• In 2015, Mr. Magongo won the Titans Building Nations Award in the category of civil society/charity organizations for the entire Southern African region.

Target demographics: Orphans under the age of 19.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 823

Geographic areas served: Eswatini (Swaziland)

Programs: *Monthly stipends for necessities such as food and clothing*Comprehensive medical care*Skills training and business education*Gender & economic empowerment programs