BREAKFAST DASH BLENDS WELLNESS, TOURISM AND SOCIAL IMPACT IN ESWATINI

By Ntokozo Zwane

The August Breakfast Dash promises more than an energetic start to the weekend. Taking place at Malandela’s in Malkerns on August 29, 2026, the monthly wellness event combines fitness, local tourism and community impact through its first-ever partnership with the BAWSS Foundation, an organisation dedicated to combating period poverty in Eswatini.

Originally launched in April 2025 to promote Malandela’s breakfast experience, the Breakfast Dash has steadily evolved into a family-friendly wellness event that invites participants to enjoy scenic farm routes while embracing healthy living. Visitors can choose between a 5km walk, 5km run, 10km run or 10km cycle, with routes designed to accommodate both beginners and experienced participants.

Beyond the race, guests can explore Malandela’s gardens, restaurants and shops, making the event an appealing tourism drawcard for both local and regional visitors.

This year’s collaboration with the BAWSS Foundation adds a meaningful social dimension. Established in 2020, the foundation has reached more than 35,000 girls and women through sanitary product distributions and dignity-pack initiatives aimed at restoring confidence and ensuring girls do not miss school because of period poverty.

According to the foundation, every sanitary pad donation collected during the Breakfast Dash will contribute directly to its ongoing outreach programmes. While a single donation may seem small, collective contributions can have a lasting impact on girls who struggle to access essential menstrual products.

“Period poverty is about more than simply not having access to sanitary products,” the foundation explains. “It can mean missing school, feeling uncomfortable or losing confidence because a girl doesn’t have what she needs to manage her period with dignity.”

Participants are also encouraged to “wear their pink,” a theme that symbolises solidarity with girls and women while creating visibility for the cause. The vibrant display of colour serves as a reminder that the event is about more than fitness , it’s about raising awareness, inspiring generosity and uniting communities behind a shared purpose.

For the BAWSS Foundation, the event carries a simple but powerful message: meaningful change begins with ordinary people choosing to contribute in whatever way they can. Whether through donating sanitary products, volunteering time or spreading awareness, every action helps strengthen community support for girls affected by period poverty.

As the Breakfast Dash continues to grow as a wellness tourism attraction, its partnership with the BAWSS Foundation shows how travel experiences can also create opportunities to give back.

In the words of the foundation: “Every contribution matters. Together, we can make sure that a girl’s period never stands between her and her dignity, confidence or education. Every girl, everywhere, period.”

A few small edits made: tightened repetitive phrasing, fixed minor punctuation/spacing, smoothed a couple of transitions, and lightly varied word choice to avoid repeating “encourages/theme” back to back. Let me know if you’d like this dropped into your standard ETN editorial layout or need a matching social caption set.