Today, Siphofaneni came alive with conversation, reflection, and hope as Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Eswatini (NCME) hosted a powerful Community Dialogue focused on mental wellbeing, youth empowerment, and the prevention of adolescent crime.
Held in partnership with the Eswatini Association for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of Offenders (ESACRO), the dialogue brought together community members, caregivers, youth, and local leaders for an honest and engaging discussion about the challenges families face – and the solutions we can build together.
A Safe Space for Honest Conversations
The dialogue created a safe and welcoming space where participants could openly share experiences, ask questions, and learn more about the support available to them.
NCME opened the session with a heartfelt presentation on positive living and mental well-being. The team emphasized that emotional health is just as important as physical health, and that no one should feel alone when facing stress, trauma, or personal struggles.
Key messages included:
- The importance of talking about how we feel, instead of suffering in silence
- Knowing where to go for psychosocial support and counselling
- Encouraging young people to seek help early, before challenges become crises
- Recognising that mental health is a community responsibility – families, churches, schools, and community leaders all have a role to play
Participants were also reminded about NCME’s ongoing work in the area, including:
- Psychosocial support services
- Community outreach programmes
- Youth empowerment initiatives that build confidence, leadership, and resilience
Shining a Light on Adolescent Crime
ESACRO then led a powerful and sobering discussion on adolescent crime awareness. The session unpacked the complex realities behind youth involvement in crime – not to stigmatise young people, but to understand the pressures they face and how communities can respond constructively.
The discussion explored:
- Causes of youth involvement in crime, including poverty, peer pressure, substance abuse, trauma, and lack of guidance
- Risks and consequences, such as school dropout, conflict with the law, criminal records, broken family relationships, and long-term emotional damage
- The link between unaddressed mental health challenges and negative coping mechanisms
ESACRO stressed that prevention starts long before a crime is committed. Communities must invest in:
- Early intervention – identifying warning signs and stepping in with support
- Strong family support systems that provide love, discipline, and guidance
- Positive role models who show young people that there are better paths to follow
- Safe recreational spaces, where youth can play, learn, create, and connect in healthy ways
The message was clear: when we stand together as families and communities, we can keep young people away from crime and closer to opportunity.
Community Voices, Shared Responsibility
Throughout the dialogue, community members shared their own concerns and insights – from worries about substance abuse and peer pressure, to the desire for more youth programmes and safe spaces in Siphofaneni. Facilitators encouraged participants to see themselves not just as observers, but as active partners in change:
- Parents and caregivers were encouraged to listen more, judge less, and keep lines of communication open with their children.
- Youth were reminded that they have voices, talents, and potential that the community needs.
- Local leaders and structures were urged to continue supporting initiatives that create opportunities, not just punish mistakes.
Moving Forward: Hope and Commitment
As the session came to a close, there was a strong sense of shared responsibility and hope. NCME and ESACRO reaffirmed their commitment to walk alongside communities like Siphofaneni in building safer, healthier, and more supportive environments for children and young people.
NCME expressed deep gratitude to everyone who attended, contributed, asked questions, and engaged with courage and honesty. Together, we are:
- Breaking the silence around mental health
- Opening conversations about crime and its root causes
- Strengthening families and communities
- Planting seeds of hope in the hearts of young people
Today’s dialogue was more than just a meeting – it was a step forward.
Step by step, conversation by conversation, we are working together to build safer, healthier, and more empowered communities in Eswatini.
