Jon Smith Presents Video Project for Eswatini’s National Trail Network to Prime Minister
Published: January 06, 2026 | Author: Clare-Estelle Perkins | Read Time: 2 minutes
A creative research project spearheaded by Southern Utah University Professor of Communication, Jon Smith, and his wife, co-producer, Anne Smith, who works in the SUU Office of Learning Abroad, was presented to the Prime Minister and cabinet members of the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland).
The project included the writing, shooting, and editing of a powerful 3-4 minute proposal video for a planned national trails network. Now known as Luhambo, the network aims to connect various parts of the small nation, promoting conservation and enhancing economic opportunities for rural communities through hiking, biking, and equestrian tourism. To complete this undertaking, the project received essential support from a College of Humanities & Social Sciences (HSS) Summer Research Grant, provided by the SUU Dean's Office.
Jon and Anne Smith are not strangers to extensive travel as this trip to Eswatini follows a College of Natural Sciences expedition in May 2021. The couple conducted interviews with key stakeholders across the region, including community leaders, non-profit trails organizers, tourism operators, wildlife reserve operators, and the CEO of the Eswatini Tourism Authority. Interviews took place both in Eswatini and at Africa’s largest tourism conference, Indaba, in Durban, South Africa.
The culmination of the project occurred on Aug. 21, 2025, when Darron Raw, owner of Swazi Trails, and his partner in the proposal, Marie Dahl, presented the short documentary to the nation’s highest government officials. The video was also launched at the Eswatini Tourism Nkwe.
“Jon Smith’s short documentary on the Eswatini National Trail Network, now known as Luhambo, has been invaluable in communicating the project’s vision and potential,” said Raw. “Launched at the Eswatini Tourism Nkwe and viewed by the Eswatini Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers, it will soon reach a wider public through our website and social media. The film successfully captures the benefits of Luhambo for tourism, conservation, and rural community development, and has already played a key role in generating support for the initiative.”
The completed video, titled Luhambo - A National Trail Network in Eswatini, is available to view online.
About SUU Study Abroad
SUU's Office of Learning Abroad (OLA) facilitates opportunities for SUU students, faculty, and staff to travel and study abroad. Their vision includes enabling the entire SUU community to experience the richness of other cultures, to honor diversity, to practice empathy, and to find personal fulfillment. OLA works to foster empathy, cultural and global understanding, experiential learning, and personal enrichment in all of the university's students, faculty, and staff by providing them with these opportunities to take part in international and domestic programs. SUU students are reminded that they are eligible to apply for similar summer research grants from the Dean's Office to support their own innovative projects.
Tags: College of Humanities and Social Sciences Communication FacStaff Study Abroad Academic
Contact Information:
Brooke Heath
435-586-5400
brookeheath1@suu.edu