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Our work
Summits, training, economic empowerment, community care and outreach that equip LGBTI people in Eswatini to lead change.
Programme areas
Alongside psychosocial support, health commodities, legal reform and education, these programmes are where our members meet, learn and lead.
Our flagship gathering of members, activists and allies, every year since 2019.
Workshops, dialogues, trainings and webinars that equip members to lead.
Entrepreneurship and income for LGBTI people, especially LBQ women.
Food, toiletries and company for community members and children in need.
Pride, schools, festivals and public campaigns across Eswatini.
Annual LGBTI Summit
Every year we bring members, activists and allies together to reflect, learn and set the direction of the movement.
November 2019 · Hawane Resort
Our first summit, #EswatiniBreakingBarriers, brought LGBTIQ members together at Hawane Resort. Participants applied with a short essay on why they should attend. Supported by the PlanetRomeo Foundation.
15 to 18 September 2020 · Mantenga Lodge, Ezulwini
More than 45 participants, selected through an essay competition on "Reimagining the future: an incremental approach towards LGBTI protection". The EU Ambassador opened the summit, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, joined on day two, and activists from Botswana, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe shared how they navigate advocacy before the courts.
Read the communique2022 · Magadzavane Lodge
Under the theme "An unabated movement towards social, economic and political justice for LGBTIQ", with support from The Other Foundation and the Southern Africa Litigation Centre.
3 to 5 September 2025 · Sibane Sami Hotel
Under the theme "From Margins to Momentum: Queer Rights, Bold Futures". Day one was a human rights dialogue, day two focused on sexual and reproductive health, and day three on economic empowerment through agriculture. Participants also discussed The Other Foundation's survey "A House Divided".
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Capacity building
Members get priority in our training and capacity building.
Four cohorts (gay and bisexual men; lesbian and bisexual persons; transgender and intersex persons; and LGBTI allies) built skills in human rights, self-advocacy, safe social media use and collective action.
An open dialogue on the organised voices challenging rights-based approaches in Eswatini, and what they mean for marginalised communities.
ESGM members represented us at a digital activism workshop in South Africa, and came home to launch the #RegisterESGM petition.
ESGM hosted the launch of The Other Foundation's survey on public attitudes to sexual orientation and gender identity, with a panel discussion and community dialogue.
With United Voices for Diversity, the Eswatini LGBTI consortium, at the Hilton Hotel in Mbabane.
A wellbeing session where members and staff shared ways to protect their mental health while staying active in advocacy.
The Red Cross in Eswatini trained ESGM in psychological first aid, so we can support members in crisis.
A self-awareness and self-love workshop that helped members build confidence, set boundaries and live more openly.
A training for journalism students from the University of Eswatini and Limkokwing University on reporting accurately and fairly on LGBTI people. The students went on to make a short film and an article.
More than 40 community members learned how advocacy supports litigation, how to work with the media and how to tell their own stories, with SALC and CANGO.
When COVID-19 closed our doors, we went online: weekly webinars on mental health, gender-based violence, the economic impact of lockdown, LGBTI parenting, language and criminalisation.
Focus groups with 109 LGBTI people in all four regions on their lived experiences and what they need from the law. Their answers shaped our advocacy strategy.
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Economic empowerment
Our LBQ Entrepreneurship programme supports lesbian, bisexual and queer women to earn an income.
In July 2025 members showcased their handmade soaps, crafts and other products at the Malkerns Centre flea market. At the 2025 summit, a full day focused on income through agriculture.
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Community care
Advocacy is also about showing up. When our community or our neighbours are in need, we give our time, food and care.
To mark Bisexual Visibility Month, ESGM members collected toiletries and non-perishable food and spent the day at the Mangozeni Soup Kitchen in Malkerns, which feeds orphaned and vulnerable children.
Many LGBTI people cannot spend Christmas with their families because they are unwelcome. Our founder hosted Queermas, a Christmas gathering so that no one spent the holidays alone.
LGBTI parents and parents of LGBTI children learned about sexual orientation and gender identity, and formed a support group to share experiences and help each other.
During the lockdown, ESGM members received food parcels through HealthPlus 4 Men, and our webinars kept the community connected and informed.
Give in kind
We collect toiletries (soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sanitary pads) and non-perishable food (baked beans, tinned fish) for our donation drives. Contact us to drop off a donation.
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Outreach and visibility
Games, music, dance and poetry under the theme "The Hum of Inclusion and Diversity".
Our stall in the Bring Your Fire Zone, and the Unity Parade on day two.
With United Voices for Diversity in Manzini, under the theme "At the heart of democracy".
An honest, moving talk on what it means to be queer in Eswatini, during the school's Pride Week.
Celebrating queer motherhood, in collaboration with PUCAC.
Honouring love, legacy and LGBTI+ fatherhood in all its forms.
ESGM members giving back to their community.
As the festival's mobile activators and at the Unity Parade, we reached more than 1,500 festival-goers and handed out 500 information leaflets.
With United Voices for Diversity at Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini, under the theme "The Power of Communities".
ESGM won the festival's social impact competition, and the stall that came with it.
ESGM hosted the community vote that elected the LGBTI representative to the Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism in Eswatini.
We put up a billboard on a busy road in Mbabane calling for ESGM to be registered and for equal rights. It made regional news.
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Every programme on this page is funded by partners and supporters like you.
