58 sponsored children in 2025 – Wow!
Nearly sixty orphaned and vulnerable children from impoverished families who were not signed up to school this year due to a lack of funding are now fully enrolled for 2025 – the school gates have opened!
Lifting Spirits has also provided funding for new uniforms, books and stationery for 52 of those youngsters. This has all been possible thanks to our kind donors, our dedicated team in the UK and Eswatini and our partners. Working alongside our excellent partner in Eswatini, the Moya Centre, means the “neediest of the needy” have been chosen for sponsorship this year. Some of these children have no close family members left at all.
“It’s been a whirlwind to see how the kindness from people who have donated plays out in real life on-the-ground in Eswatini. To say they have made a difference is a big understatement – our thanks to everyone in the Lifting Spirits’ Community!” said Michelle Meineke, Co-Founder and Director of Lifting Spirits.
“As ever, spending time with the children is utterly inspiring and motivating to do more and more. We have only touched the tip of the iceberg. The children have so much potential and we are very happy to provide a financial helping hand for them to explore that,” added Michelle.
At an astonishing 72%, the majority of our donors opted to fully sponsor a secondary school child through their education this year – covering school fees, uniform, stationery and book hire for £33 per month. We also have a near-equal split of donations that are personal and from businesses.
Plus, nearly 20% of our donors have chosen to sponsor more than one child, including an extraordinary sponsorship of 25 children by Frank Flegg and Aran Curry at the Insight Group.
All these data points illustrate how the education and safety of orphaned and vulnerable children touches so many hearts, so matter where we are in the world.
“Michelle and I have visited the children’s homesteads, we have heard their stories, we have seen their passion to learn. The need is so great, but our team in Eswatini and the UK is completely committed to helping them move the needle of their lives,” said James Barry, Co-Founder and Director of Lifting Spirits.
“This is just the beginning of an exciting adventure for the Lifting Spirits’ Community. We welcome as many new “members” as possible – so get in touch!” shared James.
Many thanks to all our donors and the organisations that have generously supported us with discounted products. This includes our logo design by Marna Van Rensburg at Koru Designs Botswana (free of charge), our website by Clare Dawe at Owl and Bear and branded t-shirts by The Print Company Oxford.
“As ever, spending time with the children is utterly inspiring and motivating to do more and more. We have only touched the tip of the iceberg. The children have so much potential and we are very happy to provide a financial helping hand for them to explore that.”
Michelle Meineke, Co-Founder and Director
“This is just the beginning of an exciting adventure for the Lifting Spirits’ Community. We are always delighted to welcome as many new “members” as possible – so get in touch!”
James Barry, Co-Founder and Director
Lifting Spirits
The team at Lifting Spirits raise money to send orphaned and very vulnerable children to school in Eswatini, a country in southern Africa. Eswatini has one of the world’s highest number of orphans and is one of the world’s poorest nations, yet it is full of children with big smiles and a huge desire to learn. Our fundraising pays for school fees, uniforms, book hire and stationery. We have a Lifting Spirits’ team on-the-ground in Eswatini and we work very closely with our Swazi partners. Every single penny donated goes to the children. 100%.