New Eswatini-EU Youth Sounding Board unveiled
The European Union (EU) in Eswatini warmly welcomes the 2nd cohort of the Eswatini-EU Youth Sounding Board (YSB) – a group of 15 highly motivated youth from across Eswatini who will be in office for the next two years ensuring that young people in Eswatini are involved in shaping and implementing EU-funded programmes in the Kingdom.
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This group, which is all inclusive and coming from all four regions of the country, was launched on 10 August 2026 in Mbabane.
Speaking during this colourful launch, EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Karsten Mecklenburg, said the YSB concept was embedded in the EU’s resolve to ensure that EU support throughout the world including Eswatini also meets the aspirations of the young people.
As such, the Ambassador said, the youth, through the YSB, must have a real voice in shaping EU programming in the Kingdom thus strengthening EU partnership with Eswatini and make youth involvement even more impactful.
“This cohort we are launching today has a big task of taking from the first group and actively lead our efforts towards connecting, engaging and empowering Emaswati youth. Connecting, engaging and empowering are the three main pillars of the current EU Youth Action Plan and the YSB will be instrumental in sharing with their colleagues in Eswatini how these pillars come alive,” said the Ambassador.
Speaking on the same occasion, the Under-Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Mzwandile Mtsetfwa, who spoke on behalf of the Minister, Bongani Nzima, congratulated the new YSB and urged the group to actively represent the youth of Eswatini by building on the success of the previous board.
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The Minister said the YSB should always strive to achieve measurable outcomes rather than the number of meetings held.
The new YSB was selected after a rigorous process which saw almost 500 applicants.