By Ntokozo Magongo
Manzini Lions Club has funded the Special Olympics Eswatini with E50 000 for sports development in the country.
The presentation was held on today (May 3, 2024) at the Manzini Club where Manzini Lions Club members, Sammy Msibi and Bongani Khumalo handed over the cheque to Special Olympic Eswatini Chairman Louis Nxumalo.
Special Olympic Eswatini provides an enabling and accommodative environment for people with intellectual disabilities through sports training and competition.
Also present to give support was Fikile Shongwe from the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office (DPMO) and Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Darius Dlomo who was represented by Media Officer Dumisani Ntiwane.
Manzini Lions Club Member Sammy Msibi said this was not the first time they have a helping to the country’s community. He said the Manzini Lions Club was one of over 49 000 clubs in the Lions Club International community with a membership of over 1.4 million members.
“Our mission is to empower Lions clubs, volunteers, and partners to improve health and wellbeing, strengthen communities, and support those in need through humanitarian service and grants that impact lives globally, and encourage peace and international understanding,” he said.
He said as Manzini Lions Club, they have supported a number of projects, including partnering with the Health Stakeholders in the Childhood Cancer Awareness, partnered with Autism Eswatini in their fundraising campaign to build the Autism Wellness Centre and they are looking for care points in the Lubombo and Manzini regions where we give these care points, food to cook for the needy children in the area.
Special Olympics Eswatini Chairman Louis Nxumalo said they were a program affiliated with Special Olympics International.
He said Special Olympics were addressing injustice, isolation, intolerance and inactivity faced by individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families. He then added that they will utilise the sponsorship wisely and continue reaping medals at international level.
