The Kingdom of Swaziland is a mountainous landlocked country covering 17,364 square kilometres in the south-eastern corner of Africa, the southern hemisphere’s smallest country, three quarters of its area is bordered by South Africa and one quarter by Mozambique. With abundant nature, clean rivers and magnificent mountains the landscapes are stunning. The population of Swaziland is just over one million with about 78.9% residing in rural areas. 52% of the population is under the age of 20 years and the unemployment rate is about 37.1 per cent.

Swaziland is a place where kings still rule relatively supreme and tribal traditions remain strong but it has not escaped the realities of modern life. AIDS infection rates are high.

The handcraft sector in Swaziland is thriving, and its combination of good design and high quality products shows the rest of Africa how it can be a powerful tool for lifting communities.