Young Heroes
First conceived of by RPCV Steve Kallaugher in 2005 and proposed to Eswatini’s (formerly Swaziland’s) National Emergency Response Council on HIV and AIDs (NERCHA), Young Heroes was the first organization in Eswatini to directly address the needs of AIDs orphans and vulnerable children on a national basis. It remains the only organization to do so. The non-profit has successfully created a comprehensive set of financial, medical and educational services for those children and their caregivers. Young Heroes has reached over 15,000 children, adolescents, young adults and caregivers with its programs.
- In 2020, Young Heroes became the first Swazi organization named as a prime USAID grant recipient — a $4 million grant for a three-year program beginning in 2021.
- In 2021, Young Heroes transition to direct USAID funding to provide comprehensive HIV prevention for vulnerable children and adolescent girls and young women (AGYW).
- Eswatini’s Young Heroeswas been recognized by the United Nations as a best practice model for supporting orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), focusing on health, education, and economic empowerment. The organization, which began as an initiative against HIV/AIDS, has been recommended to UNICEF’s Global Orphan Alliance as a model for other countries and is known for its direct support through life-support grants, health care, and vocational training.
- In 2024, Young Heroes reached 36,172 orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and 45,766 adolescent girls and young women (AGYW).
- In 2025, Young Heroes lost a large portion of its funding when the U.S. eliminated its USAID-funded programs around the world.
Donations can be made to:
Young Heroes Foundation
415 Deerfield Circle
Fort Collins, CO 80524
USA
Current Director:
Jacqueline Eisenberg-Nelson, PCV Swaziland, 2004-2006