Current Events
Want to get involved in helping the children of Swaziland? Here’s how you can:
Save the Date:
Sat., Feb 4th 2017
Molly Spillane’s 211 Mamaroneck Ave
Tickets are available at the door,
from committee members,
or by emailing info@swazilegacy.org
Need more information on these or any events? Contact us at info@swazilegacy.org
My Swazi Experience
Eastchester HS Alumni Clara Lesch
In the summer of 2013, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Swaziland with Swazi Legacy. Through each experience I had I felt more and more connected to the mission of Swazi Legacy. However, it was meeting a ten-year-old girl named Jeanie that made the mission of Swazi Legacy a part of who I am. The first time I met Jeanie, she was standing in the entryway of McCorkindale’s Orphanage. At first she was extremely shy but soon she was holding my hand, as well as showing me around the grounds of McCorkindale’s. She introduced me to her brothers and sisters. Over the course of the next few days Jeanie and I developed a strong bond. After school she would come and sit with me and was eagerly waiting to help out. We would talk and dance but mostly we would laugh together. Jeanie found the joy in every moment we spent together, I had never met a happier child. It was on our last night together that I was told just 2 weeks prior to the arrival of Swazi Legacy, Jeanie along with her four siblings had attended their mother’s funeral. After experiencing such darkness, Jeanie was still shining brighter than anyone I knew. Her happiness was infectious and I promised her I would be back.
This past summer I was able to keep my promise to Jeanie and return to Swaziland with Swazi Legacy. I was unsure if I would see Jeanie on this visit because we did not know where she was staying. On our first day at Manzini Youth Care I felt a tug on my hand and looked down to see Jeanie looking up at me. She was a lot taller, and her face looked a lot older and a lot wiser. I tried to hold back tears as I hugged her with all my might for the first time in so many years. The course of the next few days was different than the first summer I spent with Jeanie. Instead of going across the front lawn and giggling, we spent a lot of time talking. We spent a great deal of time talking about the future. Jeanie wants to leave Swaziland and come to the United States to get a college education. She wants to be a doctor and help people. From what I have heard from Jeanie’s teachers, if anyone can do it, it’s her. Leaving Jeanie this past summer hurt more than I can put into words. Again, I promised her I would be back, and I promised myself that I would get her the education she deserves.
Father Pat Ahern was a priest who helped feed, shelter and educate the orphaned children in Swaziland from 1930 to his death in 2009. He was a founding member of the Salesians in Swaziland, who were part of the anti-aparteid movement. Father Pat is buried in Swaziland.
Continuing
the Legacy
When Father Pat passed away, members of his family traveled to Swaziland for his burial. It was during this visit that they realized the full impact of his life-long work and how important it was to the people there. The children of Swaziland depended on him so much that they could not turn their backs on his mission, and they became inspired to continue his important work.
Jean Kenny |
Brendan Ahern |
Dan Ahern |
Chris Ahern |
Mike Heffernan |
Cora Creed |
Jack Hughes |
How Can you Help?
Want to get involved in helping the children of Swaziland? Here’s how you can:
Attend or Host a Fundraiser
Fundraisers are our greatest source of donations. If you are interested in hosting a fundraiser to benefit Swazi Legacy, please contact us. Here are some events coming up:
8th Annual Swazi Legacy Dance
@ Molly Spillane’s, Mamaroneck – Feb 4
Swazi Week at EHS week of Feb 6
go on a mission trip.
In 2016, 18 students and 10 adults visited Swaziland on a self-funded mission, and worked with the children in the classrooms, created a wonderful playground mural and renovated some of the classrooms and homes. Our 2016 trip was an overwhelming success and more than ever we see the need to support this cause.
Contact us to create your own Mission trip.
donate.
Donations and proceeds from our fundraisers go directly to support Manzini Youth Care and the McCorkindale’s Orphanage in Swaziland. We are a recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity organization.
Mail a check to Swazi Legacy, Inc.
…..P.O. Box 905, Yonkers, NY 10704
Contact us about giving stocks or matching contributions at info@swazilegacy.org
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The Problem
Swaziland is a small landlocked country located in southern Africa and is slightly smaller than New Jersey. An estimated 66% of the population lives below the poverty line. HIV and AIDS also plague the community. Because of the disease there are an estimated 70,000 orphaned children in Swaziland today.
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Our Impact
Swazi Legacy strives to erase the inequities that exist among the children of our world by raising awareness and fostering social activism. It is our goal to work together as a community in order to provide a positive educational environment that will enable those individuals facing the most dire circumstances to succeed in our world.
In 6 years we have raised an estimated $420,000
Completely renovated McCorkindale Orphanage and Farm
Presented to many groups in NY educating them about the positive impact our Swazi friends have had on us.
Sheltered and Educated an estimated 5,000 children.
Swazi Legacy, Inc. is a New York State non-for-profit corporation and a recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity organization dedicated to assisting in the support, care, and education of marginalized and homeless young people at risk through poverty in Swaziland.