MTN Bushfire strongly advocates for the youth’s early exposure to the arts, encouraging creative self-expression and active participation in their communities. In an exciting development, the European Union (EU) became title sponsor of this youth empowerment festival space in 2023.
Occurring on the days preceding the main festival, the EU Bushfire Schools Festival’s 2-day programme reinforces the national arts curriculum in Eswatini’s public schools by presenting creative performances, workshops and interactive outreach programs in collaboration with local primary and high school learners and teachers. Local arts facilitators inspire and share their skills with Eswatini’s aspiring young artists. Over 10,000 students and teachers have taken part in the Schools Festival since its inception in 2010.

VISION

The EU Bushfire Schools Festival works towards providing sustainable access to the arts and developing a unique platform of creative expression and dialogue for young people in the country. Each year the Festival has a specific theme, chosen in collaboration with key stakeholders, that is used to impart positive social messaging around youth skills development and other pertinent social issues to learners and teachers, using the arts as a vehicle.

MISSION

The fundamental aims of the EU Bushfire Schools Festival are to support, facilitate and develop arts education in Eswatini, support arts curriculum implementation in schools and increase the participation of local arts facilitators, allowing them to inspire and impart their skills to Eswatini’s youth.