MBABANE – Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as Head of the Commonwealth, has today recognized Khulekani Msweli, representing Eswatini, as the 190th Commonwealth Point of Light in honor of his exceptional voluntary service supporting orphans and vulnerable children during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Msweli runs the ‘Vuvulane Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s Outreach Foundation’ (VOVCOF), which served an average of 140 meals per day to orphans and distributed food parcels to families during Eswatini’s COVID-19 lockdown, as well as other items such as sanitary products, face masks and sanitizers.
As part of the legacy of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London 2018, Her Majesty The Queen – as Head of the Commonwealth – is thanking inspirational volunteers across the 54 Commonwealth nations for the difference they are making in their communities and beyond, by recognizing one volunteer from each Commonwealth country every week.
Most of the fresh vegetables and fruit served through the Foundation are sourced from local traders, with Khulekani also having launched the ‘Vuvulane Food Market’ in 2019, a sustainable garden-to-table restaurant that sources its produce from small-scale community farmers. Visitors can also use a communal solar powered phone charger to power up their mobile telephones.
Simon Boyden, British High Commissioner to Eswatini, said, “I would like to congratulate Khulekani Msweli and ‘Vuvulane Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s Outreach Foundation’ (VOVCOF) on being selected for the Commonwealth Points of Light Queen’s Award. The Foundation’s soup kitchen continues to offer an invaluable service through its increased provision of food parcels and hygiene products to the local community. Well done,”
Meanwhile, Khulekani said,“It is now, more than ever, through honest leadership, that our local and global communities need hope and love. Hope to combat inequality, injustices, suppression of freedoms, diseases and climate change. I accept this award with gratitude, as it is not mine alone but for all the people of Eswatini who are fighting for freedom,”
