SOS Emergency Relief Programme in Tête, Mozambique…
As I've been working on this project I have been trying to get a fair understanding of what life is like in different countries. Sometimes I discover things more terrible than I expected about a country. Mozambique is an example of this. But knowing the situation, although difficult, is important, as it shows why help is needed, and makes me realise the value of organsiations like SOS Children. After all, if I know about the situation it is because SOS Children's Villages is there, on the ground, reporting on it, and there is some comfort to be gained from that.
- Lisa
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SOS Emergency Relief Programme in Tête, Mozambique
As I've been working on this project I have been trying to get a fair understanding of what life is like in different countries. Sometimes I discover things more terrible than I expected about a country. Mozambique is an example of this. But knowing the situation, although difficult, is important, as it shows why help is needed, and makes me realise the value of organsiations like SOS Children. After all, if I know about the situation it is because SOS Children's Villages is there, on the ground, reporting on it, and there is some comfort to be gained from that.
I have been reading a report from the 23rd March 2007. The report describes the war conditions in Mozambique at the time. Here is an extract from that report:
The explosions from a military ammunition storage dump killed more than 70 and injured more than 200 yesterday near the SOS Children's Village Maputo, Mozambique.
One family house at the SOS Children's Village was completely destroyed and there was some damage to other houses. There were no injuries to children or co-workers.
The explosions, which were reportedly caused by intense heat, occurred at a military ammunition storage facility in Malhazine, a suburb of Maputo, just before 5 p.m. local time on Thursday.
The Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM) armoury stored more than 20 tonnes of old military equipment and weapons approximately two kilometres from SOS Children's Village Maputo.
All children and co-workers from the children's village were evacuated to Maputo centre by local taxi mini-buses after the initial explosions.The children returned safely to the SOS Children's Village at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Friday morning.
The national director, Jaime Alves, found a piece of metal about 60 centimetres long and weighing about 12 kilograms in the village, which had damaged one of the houses as it landed.
At least 72 people were confirmed dead and more than 200 were injured by the blasts, according to wire reports. The explosions sent mortar bombs and rockets into the nearby Laulane residential district, where many houses were destroyed. A similar explosion occurred at the same military facility on 28 January 2007.
The Mozambique Minister of Education, Mr Aires Aly, has visited the children's village composed of fifteen family houses. The Office of the First Lady of Mozambique sent a delegation to view the damage, and has donated foodstuffs and has also offered the services of a psychologist to assist any children who have been traumatized. - Mary
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Refugees nearby the SOS Children's Village in Tête, Mozambique
Ten years ago, young people from SOS Children's Village Tete started lives as independent adults in houses built to celebrate the International Year of the Family. How are they doing now?
To celebrate the International Year of the Family in 1994, SOS Children's Villages Mozambique built ten houses for youths who were about to become independent. With great fanfare and excitement, the ten youths took up residence in their new homes and began life as independent adults. The area in which the houses were built is called Barrio Azul, which is close by to SOS Children's Village Tete.
Ten years on, all ten of the houses are still occupied by the original inhabitants.
Lidia lives in one of the houses with her husband of one year, Orlando. Lidia remembers how things were when she first moved into the new house. "At first, life was tough, especially during my first days in the new community since everything was new to me, but I persevered because I know that life is full of ups and downs... then I came across my life partner whom I married in 2003" She is looking forward to facing life as part of a married couple.
One of the other occupants, Domingos has seen a big change in his working life over the last ten years. "The major thing that has happened is that I completed a professional course in vehicle mechanics and I am now a qualified mechanic and the company that I work for has offered me a chance to further my studies. I have also got married and now I have three children"
Domingos comments that all of his neighbours are the same as when they all moved in at the same time ten years ago. His neighbour, Zeferina, mentions that the area has not changed that much in the ten years that they have all lived in Barrio Azul, but that it is generally cleaner now because everyone takes care to keep it neat and tidy, whereas when they first moved in there was much rubbish in the area.
All of the inhabitants commented on the major change in their lives over the last ten years - that of Mozambique now being at peace rather than in the throws of civil war. "Mozambique politics have been completely transformed" says Lidia. "Mozambique is one of the best countries to live in" agrees Domingos.
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