Swaziland Homeopathy Project

Barbara Braun (Project Director) was born in Swaziland, in 1959, and completed a BSc (Hons) in Zoology at Reading University in the UK. She then qualified as an osteopath in the UK and later as an acupuncturist and homeopath. She has been in private practice in Swaziland since 1986.

In 2008 she co-founded the Swaziland Homeopathy Project with two British homeopaths, Julie Hodgson and Shirley Reece. The project was based on the Maun Homeopathy Project initiated by Hilary Fairclough in Botswana.

Sheila Freemantle (Coordinator) has a BA in Social Anthropology, a Diploma in Astrology and a Diploma in Herbal medicine. In 1985 she founded Tintsaba with 12 women and there are now 985 women involved in the initiative. Tintsaba has trained over 890 craftswomen, building on traditional knowledge to take craft into an art form and has earned the title "Masterweavers of sisal in Africa." The homeopathy project's free clinics were started as part of Tintsaba’s commitment to the holistic wellbeing of the staff and artists.

Sheila and Tintsaba have received a number of awards notably the 2006 Swaziland Ministry of Commerce award for Entrepreneur of the Year, the 2011 TIAW Awards for women making a difference and the 2 011, BTC Be Fair Her (prestigious international fair trade award). She is also vice chairman of (SWIFT) Swaziland Fair Trade and served 2 terms of office as a Town councilor for Piggs Peak.

Ruth Odendaal (Clinic Manager) was born in Zimbabwe and trained at the College of Practical Homeopathy, graduating in 2004. She has been a director and practising homeopath for Swaziland Homeopathy Project for the past 3 years, prior to that she practised at an HIV clinic in London, Kings Cross and at Neals Yard Remedies. She was also a manager for the Richmond Shop and Therapy rooms. She practices a number of healing modalities such as Pleiadian light work, Magnified healing and Sekhem.

Zethu Sihlongongane (Trainee Homeopath and Database Clerk) is 28 years old and is one of the few women auto mechanics in Swaziland. Zethu is friendly and fun, has an outgoing personality and loves working with people. She became interested in homeopathy when her mother got sick and received help at one of the project’s clinics. Seeing a significant improvement in her mother’s health, and observing work of the homeopaths at the Pine Valley clinic, Zethu became interested in the training program and registered for the course.

She enjoys studying homeopathy, successfully balancing her schoolwork with taking care of her 3-year old daughter Owethu, who she loves very much. When asked about the most rewarding part of studying homeopathy, Zethu answered that seeing improvement in patients’ health, who often suffer from chronic disease for years, is the most gratifying feeling, encouraging her to continue her studies.

Peggy Kunene (Trainee Homeopath and Senior Translator) was born in Swaziland and worked as an accountant until her early retirement in 2003. She is a charming person with a lovely smile, and is gentle and kind. As a former patient at one of the clinics, she personally experienced the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment. Peggy has been working as a translator for the project for over a year, and has witnessed many of the other success stories of patients like herself.

Inspired by these stories and encouraged by the director of the project, Barbara Braun, Peggy enrolled in the training course. She admits that studying was hard at first, but eventually she became much more confident. “I enjoy every minute of it “, - says Peggy with a big smile. When Peggy is not working as a translator or preparing for seminars, she spends time with her granddaughter who she absolutely adores.