1,200,000
total population
23.4%
of adults live with HIV
71%
of children in Eswatini are classified as orphaned and vulnerable children
The HIV crisis created a national emergency in Eswatini, leaving many children without a safe place to call home. Our calling is to walk with each child—and each family—until restoration becomes possible.
Whenever it is safe and healthy, reunification with family is our highest priority. Short-term residential care is never the destination because children heal through love, stable presence, and a sense of belonging. Support and community fosters a hope that grows as families find healing.
Discipling people, Strengthening families, Empowering commnities, For kingdom transformation.
The HIV crisis created a national emergency in Eswatini, leaving many children without a safe place to call home. Our calling is to walk with each child—and each family—until restoration becomes possible.
Whenever it is safe and healthy, reunification with family is our highest priority. Short-term residential care is never the destination because children heal through love, stable presence, and a sense of belonging. Support and community fosters a hope that grows as families find healing.
Challenge Ministries serves children, families, and communities across Eswatini. Rather than offering distant or short-term solutions, we work alongside communities where children are vulnerable and families in dire need of support.
Lasting change begins with trust—and trust is built through presence over time.
Challenge Ministries is a Christ-centered ministry shaped by a God-sized vision. Every act of care begins in prayer and follows the leading of God. The heart of this ministry is to answer His calling – serving His people as He leads and witnessing transformation take place.
Challenge Ministries serves children, families, and communities across Eswatini. Rather than offering distant or short-term solutions, we work alongside communities where children are vulnerable and families in dire need of support.
Lasting change begins with trust—and trust is built through presence over time.
total population
of adults live with HIV
of children in Eswatini are classified as orphaned and vulnerable children
Eswatini now faces the second-order impacts of the HIV/AIDS crisis – the degradation of family structures. At its core, less than 12% of Swati children are raised in households with both parents present.
Child-headed homes are common in rural communities, and living below the poverty line is not just normal, it is often expected.
The compounding pressures of extreme poverty and HIV/AIDS, has normalize abandonment.
Together, we are not just working to protect orphaned and vulnerable children, we are working to restore the family unit through the local church.
Our work reaches individuals who impact the entire household because we believe healing takes place within relationships. From children in crisis to adults pursuing recovery, each program is connected by one conviction:
lasting transformation occurs when people do not have to walk alone.
We walk with people, not ahead of them. Our churches, homes, and community centers are planted within the neighborhoods we serve. These are called ICBCs—short for In Community By Community.
Pastors, caregivers, and local teams walk with families every day to offer practical support, discipleship, and consistent relational presence.
ICBCs are the heartbeat of our work, because transformation grows family and community— one life at a time.
Challenge Ministries is a Christ-centered ministry shaped by a God-sized vision. Every act of care begins in prayer and follows the leading of God. The heart of this ministry is to answer His calling – serving His people as He leads and witnessing transformation take place.
Don’t miss out on the updates!
Restoration happens through relationship. Whether you give, go, sponsor, or partner, your yes becomes part of a larger story — one where children are reunited, families are strengthened, and communities are rebuilt to flourish for generations.
Here’s your opportunity:
We’ll automatically select a donation form based on your location. You can change it below.
Jan has extensive experience in finance and admin, operating as an executive assistant for M&L Painting, as well as serving with various ministries over the years.
Jan has a deep-seated love for God’s children, and her passion is contagious. Jan serves Bezulu both as a diligent administrator, but also as a key member of our Board of Directors.
Jan serves in both her roles as an incredible volunteer, and we are full of gratitude for her service and dedication.
Geoff is a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Geoff and his family believe investing in youth and families unlocks incredible potential. He has been a director on various international and local boards, including Vancouver Youth for Christ, Hillside Baptist, and the Reed Charitable Foundation.
Geoff’s involvement with grassroots partners in Africa extends back almost twenty years. As one of Bezulu’s board members, he brings incredible experience in operations, finance and management.
Ray has been working to serve vulnerable families and communities in Africa for decades.
An experienced corporate and nonprofit leader, Ray brings a crucial level of experience in philanthropy, operations, financial management, and business development.
Ray’s passion is found in driving economic investment that creates lifelong sustainable change for entire communities. An outcome of that passion is the creation of Kinvest Venture Partners.
Ray’s model of collaboration with grassroots partners inspires Bezulu’s values.
Michael Van Pelt is the CEO of Cardus, a leading public policy think tank in Canada.
He is a 30-year veteran of Canadian public life and a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Michael is a vibrant generator of ideas and a fantastic resource on governance and organizational leadership.
Michael serves on Bezulu’s board because he believes in bringing lasting sustainable change to families and children through investing in and working alongside local communities in Africa.
Michael lives in Ancaster, Ontario with his wife Deani.
Patty joined our board in 2024. She and her husband Myron have two adult daughters and a brand new son-in-law!
Patty holds a social work degree and has experience helping families build skills to keep children in their homes, as well as working in foster care and adoption.
She and her husband, Myron, are passionate about supporting vulnerable children in Africa. They have served on multiple trips to Bulembu, Eswatini, to provide dental care and restore smiles and health.
Based in Athabasca, AB, and wintering in Phoenix, AZ, Patty is excited to join the Bezulu team to support orphaned and at-risk children in Eswatini.
Roger and Dorothy Bartel have been pouring out their hearts and lives into the people of Eswatini for more than a decade.
Roger and Dorothy are the ultimate power couple, serving together in everything they do. Family is the most important thing.
Roger applies a critical eye to his nonprofit work, developed over a successful career with Spartan Controls, a leading industrial service provider in Western Canada.
Roger is a founding board member and key driving force behind the creation of Bezulu.
Jan has extensive experience in finance and admin, operating as an executive assistant for M&L Painting, as well as serving with various ministries over the years.
Jan has a deep-seated love for God’s children, and her passion is contagious. Jan serves Bezulu both as a diligent administrator, but also as a key member of our Board of Directors.
Jan serves in both her roles as an incredible volunteer, and we are full of gratitude for her service and dedication.
Lorri is a remarkable leadership development specialist, with a storied career in coaching, training, team and program development.
She has a heart and deep passion for loving all of God’s children, and her many trips to Africa and professional background make her the perfect person to lead Bezulu’s mission team program.
We are so privileged to have Lorri serve as a volunteer with Bezulu.
Josh is the founding Executive Director of Bezulu. He and his wife Nadine have two sons. Josh has worked in international development for over ten years, focusing on maternal and child health while leading field operations for local and international NGOs across East Africa.
As an adoptive father, Josh has profound personal experience navigating care systems for orphaned and vulnerable children. Josh knows how building a family can transform a child’s life, and he will do everything he can so that every child everywhere can be part of a family.
Josh is based in Edmonton, Alberta.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras maximus finibus tempus. Nam sed augue euismod, volutpat nisl quis, tincidunt leo. Sed luctu. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras maximus finibus tempus. Nam sed empus. Nam sed augue euismod, volutpat nisl quis, tincidunt leo.
