Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Ministry of Information Communication and Technology, through its Department of Research, Science, Technology and Innovation, officially launched Mission ShakthiSAT on 27 November 2025.
The programme will equip 108 young girls from across Eswatini with space science skills through a global initiative that trains high school learners to design simple experiments to be sent into space and towards the Moon next year.
The project is led by Space Kidz India in partnership with AUDA NEPAD and supported by the Government of Eswatini, with the launch officiated by Minister of ICT Hon Savannah Maziya and attended by Minister of Education Hon Owen Nxumalo, High Commissioner of India to Eswatini HE Ram Prasad, Dr Srimathy Kesan and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Maziya said the initiative was a historic moment for the country and a bold step towards empowering girls in science and technology. “Today marks a defining moment for Eswatini. We are not only launching Mission ShakthiSAT, we are launching dreams and declaring boldly that every girl in this kingdom has the right and ability to reach for the stars,” she said.
She revealed that almost 60 percent of the selected girls have already completed a significant portion of their online training, showing strong commitment and readiness for the next phase which will include hands on experience in Chennai India where they will work on satellite payload development.
The Minister highlighted that globally women make up only 20 to 30 percent of the space workforce and in Eswatini only three percent of female university students study pure sciences, a situation she said this programme seeks to change.
Mission ShakthiSAT forms part of the country’s broader strategy to grow its space science sector and strengthen girls participation in STEM through initiatives such as Girls in ICT Scholarships, the National Coding Initiative and Women eSwatini.
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