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(LUSIP) is a poverty alleviation initiative in the south-eastern Lowveld of Swaziland. The project promotes the allocation of water rights to smallholders who have historically been denied water rights in favour of large commercial ventures. LUSIP provides irrigation water to estimated 2600 farmers to convert more than 6500 hectares land currently used for rain fed subsistence agriculture to irrigate commercial cash crop production.

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The tiny southern African nation of Swaziland has been hit hard by the AIDS pandemic. Of the country’s population of one million, there are more than 200,000 people living with HIV. And the number of children orphaned by the disease now exceeds 70,000.

The impact of HIV/AIDS has reversed many of the social, economic and development gains Swaziland has made in the last two decades. This country is home to 1.3 million people, and a third of adults are HIV positive. As many as 75,000 children have been left orphaned by the virus and live in institutions that dot the landscape of this small kingdom. Experts estimate that by 2010, the number of orphans could climb to 120,000. A grant of US$30 million from the Global Fund will support a variety of health-care initiatives to provide prevention, care and support for the entire population of the country.

Troubled by an unemployment rate of 45 percent and devastated by a high HIV infection rate of at least 25 percent, Swaziland has decided its salvation lies in the educational advancement of its people.

With a brand new yellow campaign bus leading the way, traffic stopped as thousands of children launched the UNITE FOR CHILDREN  UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign in Swaziland.

Sivule, 200km from Mbabane
Rain fell just a few days before this photo was taken but it came too late for the Zwane family.

Like many other families in this hunger-hit region of Swaziland, the Zwane's have already been forced to ration their food to make it last longer.

While many in Swaziland are suffering through the food crisis with little hope for the next harvest, the community of Khuphuka in Lubombo Area Development Program (ADP) has reason for optimism.