"This is Not Human"

"Here, the day begins early. Since the weather is really hot, people became used to get up before dawn. But many students wake up even earlier, because they have to walk long distances to go to school. Their main motivation is to get a free meal, which for many is the only meal they have throughout the all day.

Our workday started with a discussion about the living conditions of the Chokwe community. Sister Alice, head of the school, told us about the situation of a family living in very precarious conditions, saying they were one of the poorest families in the region. We decided to visit the place where they live.

Today we saw extreme poverty. It was a "home", about 6 square meters, built with tree branches, stones, rags and mud. It had no door and was completely exposed to the surrounding dangers. Five children live there, two of them were really young. These children are orphans and their grandfather is the person who takes care of them. He is quite old and sick and the space is so short that he has to live in a tent right next to the house.

We told him we would make every effort to help them. First, we hope to transfer the kids to a school closer to their home. They take 2 hours to go to their current school but they have one much nearer to their home. 

To experience the living conditions of these children was shocking. We find it unacceptable that someone is living under these conditions."

Young and Hungry

Today was the monthly distribution of basic food baskets to the families of this community. When we arrived to the school, we found kids and their respective families, eager to get the baskets.

Among dozens of children were two boys listening to a rap song and singing the lyrics with an amazing passion. While the boys were singing, a staff member from the school named Orcídio, the local coordinator of ou NGO there, told us they were the ones who created those songs. We froze! The songs looked like they were made by real rappers! “These kids are talented, we need to talk with them” we said.

We asked if they had streamed them online or somewhere where we could follow them. But they told us they were struggling with the video production and sharing it online (because the internet here is not that accessible). They´re a rap duo and they definitely have the hunger to succeed.  They gather every money they make to create these songs with a local producer. 150 meticais (about 2 euros) to go to a studio to record each song. All the lyrics were written by them. It is amazing to see kids fighting for what they dream. We were hectic, we need to help them!

We offered ourselves to convert the songs for videos and upload them on YouTube. They looked at each other as if they had signed a million dollar contract.

So now you can find them on Youtube, search: "A% layz ft kid crayz & chin fayt on the gost - Block soldier". Next week we will show them the videos, let´s hope they like it. Check their songs on Youtube!

"Our first moments in Mozambique", by Bernardo and Filipe

After an 11 hour flight and waking up and falling asleep constantly, we finally arrived in Maputo (Mozambique´s capital). The first chat with a native happened in the very next moment, in the luggage pick up area. A man approached us with a smile and a proposal.

According to him, the security guards (that were verifying the luggage at the airport exit door) would take some of our belongings and force us to stay there for hours. They would argue that we don´t have permission to bring some of our belongings. How could we avoid this unpleasant experience? By paying this guy a little bit of money and he would “sort everything out”.

Well, we decided to follow the advice … of a friend that warned us before about this kind of situation and we said: “No, thank you”. The outcome? We went through the guards and everything was fine. We were officially in Mozambique! Straight away, an ex-volunteer from our NGO (Um Pequeno Gesto) and her father came to pick us at the airport. They were lovely and extremely welcoming. She was in town to revisit the place where she volunteered 5 years ago.

On the way, we saw a little bit of Maputo. The first feeling that we got was: “This is clearly a developing country”. Even though it is a city, with buildings, banks, etc, everything looked a little old and decadent. But the sightseeing of the Indian Ocean was beautiful. On our way, there´s a famous road that takes you to a place called “Macia”. Imagine it like an African version of the “Route 66”. Locally, probably it has the same importance, since it connects vital cities. We saw a lot of people sitting down on the floor selling fruits. While we were crossing this street, out of nowhere loads of people started running in our direction. It looked like something big was happening. We had no clue of what was going on but we found it surprisingly funny. Our car was surrounded by natives. It turns out, they were trying to sell us cashews (cajus). And they were the best ones we ever had! Ahhh… Mozambique !!!

20 Minutes later, we arrived in Xai-Xai. There was no sidewalk, the pavements were made of dirt, mud and brown water puddles. The majority of the buildings had only one floor and looked old. Some other buildings were painted all in red. And then, the Coca-Cola or Vodafone logo. These buildings were bars, cafes and local stores. Apparently, these companies offer these paintings and they are extremely popular here ahah.

Right next to the road, kids with yellow vests are selling mobile cards to top-up mobile phones, some women are walking with bowls of fruits at the top of their heads and others are sitting down in the dirt, selling stuff. Some women with typical African skirts, some kids without shoes, others with their feet inside the water puddles. Everything looked similar to what we usually see in documentaries and movies. At the same time felt different, now it was real!

One month...what a difference!!

Azélia Cuna is one of the girls attending the HIV Day Care Centre. She’s 10 years old and she’s a hard working student and very dedicated to the Centre. The picture on the left was taken during the ALG’s Board visit in April this year. The one on the right was taken only one month later when our Local Partner and Technician Orcídio informed us that Azélia was a successful case at the Day Care Centre. Usually, in the beginning of the school year in Mozambique (February) children arrive at school with weak nutritional values, after a break in classes of over 2 months (less for children attending the Day Care Centre). Thus, as soon as they start attending classes e benefiting from the daily meals at school the children quickly improve, gaining back the lost weight and becoming healthier. Thus, within a month the differences are remarkable! During the first quarter Azélia had no negative results and her average is 12; an improvement comparatively to her results last year. So we are very proud of this girl who, thanks to the HIV Day Care Centre, is benefiting from a carefully balanced nutrition and medical monitoring.

You can also help: with £73 per month you are securing a healthy childhood for children like Azélia instead of letting them follow the tragic fate of thousands of children infected with HIV in Mozambique!

Breaking the poverty cycle through Education

ALG’s mission is “Breaking the poverty cycle through Education” and we are always so proud when we receive reports of our children who, despite the adversities, focuses on what matters the most: studying.

Zanela Baloi and Jonas Pedro Ubisse are UPG Portugal Sponsored children at SLM. After classes they attend the After-School Support sponsored by ALG, where Mano Cristóvão organizes reading, writing, mathematics, sciences and civic training activities. Zanela is attending the 4th grade and Jonas is on the 2nd grade and they were both selected as the students who registered more progress, the proof is in their 1^st Quarter school results: Zanela has an average of 16 and Jonas an average of 14. We are so happy for them!

Besides the mentioned activities, After-School Support also provides a snack which in addition of promoting class attendance also enables children to study without feeling hungry.

ALG finances 2 After-School Support classrooms, in SLM and SVP, with an annual cost of 1300£ per class or an average of 9£ per child, per year, and benefits 257 students.

ALG School Feeding Programme

Muchaque Vuma is 8 years old and he attends the SLM school during the morning period.  In his day to day life he’s a poor but happy child. Although not being included in the UPG Portugal Sponsoring Programme, Muchaque is one of the 800 children benefiting from the School Feeding Programme which provides 1 daily meal to every student in SLM.

In the beginning of the year he was thin and weak. The draught has seriously affected the Chokwé district families. Agriculture is the main source of income for these families and the lack of water is very damaging.

Now Muchaque is revealing a good development and sound health. Sometimes he has lunch at school and not at home. He enjoys SLM meals a lot because he can eat a bit more than at home.

ALG’s School Feeding Programme was born out of an emergency response after the 2013 floods which devastated the Chokwé region. Since then ALG has been making a huge effort to raise funds to maintain this project. Despite the high costs the positive impact is even higher. Within a poor and vulnerable context, aggravated by the huge draught, the School Feeding Programme has been affected not only by the price increase of local produce but also by the number of children benefiting from it – for most of them this is their only meal of the day.

With the help of everybody and with 5€ a month ALG can provide a free daily meal and alleviate the hunger of children like Muchaque.

Join us this June for the ALG Quiz Night #5

In advance of the well-deserved summer break, ALG is preparing the fifth edition of our fun-filled Quiz Night. What better way to celebrate the summer and the holiday season than gathering a group of friends and putting your knowledge to a good cause! On Tuesday, the 12th July at 7pm (for a 7.30pm start) join us at the Italian restaurant Rosso Pomodoro Chelsea for a Quiz Night to raise funds for the SLM School Feeding programme in Mozambique. Your participation in this event will finance the schools meals  of c. 800 kids, aged 7-18 years old. Each ticket costs £35 per person and includes: £15 for a 3-course Italian dinner £20 for a contribution to the SLM School Feeding programme (5 children eating a FULL month!) Create your own winning team (up to 6 people including yourself) so you can take home one of our quiz prizes. If you are by yourself or with a smaller group of friends, ALG will ensure you will be included in a great team. Buy tickets for you and your friends NOW for a night of great fun where your “Little Gesture” will go a long way! We look forward to seeing you there! The ALG Team Buy Your Ticket July 2016 12 Tuesday @ Rosso Pomodoro Fulham Road Cant be there? Make a donation!

A daily nutritious meal for 800 kids in the SLM School  The ALG feeding programme alleviates hunger and brings poorer children to school, while promoting gender equality. In Quiz Night #4, ALG raised funds to build a canteen in the SLM School where c. 800 very poor children, aged 7-18 years old, would have dignified conditions during lunchtime. Finishing touches are being made this week! In this edition, ALG is raising funds to finance the SLM School feeding programme which secures a free daily meal that fights child hunger, incentivises education and reduces gender inequality. With just £41 per year a child receives a daily nutritious hot meal, which sometimes is their only meal during the day. This program costs ALG £34’289 in 2016 on its fourth year running. Better-fed, healthier children have better academic performance and are less likely to drop-out of school. The last quiz raised £2'255 - will we beat this number together?

The dream come true - Eduardo

Our Scholarship Holder Eduardo is in the final semester of his Physics Teaching Degree which has been partially sponsored by PLEN a Portuguese Law Firm. As per usual he sends us a few words of appreciation.

"Hello! Once again I’m thankful to the group that has provided me a great support to make my dream come true. I’m just about to obtain my degree, and I’m sure that without their help I wouldn’t be here today. I hope this help continues after I achieve my goal, since there are so many like me needing a helping hand. I thank everyone who tirelessly fought day and night to raise funds to help me, they we’re precious and transformed my academic life. Today, despite not having yet concluded my degree I feel many changes occurred regarding my professional life. With the knowledge acquired I’m able to overcome several obstacles in my working environment and to make teaching more comprehensible and creative. I thank all the ALG family for everything they have achieved on my behalf and I repeat – without your help I wouldn’t be where I am now. A warm embrace to the PLEN - the law firm and to all ALG family."

Larito - meet another of our small heroes!

Larito when joining the Center in April 2016

Larito is 8 years old, orphaned on the mother’s side and his father lives in South Africa. He lives with his 17-year old sister and his 10-year old brother Miguel. Miguel was well-known in our Santa Luisa Marillac school in Manjague as he was part of the SLM HIV Day Care centre in 2015. There he benefited from a comprehensive support including an extensive meal plan, medical care and study tutoring. As he skipped classes too often, he ended up dropping out of both the centre and sc

hool classes in SLM. 
The Vicentine Sisters in SLM decided to include Larito in our Sponsorship programme In October, securing access to education and a monthly food basket. As his presence on school grounds was still very erratic, the Sisters added him to their list of regular domicile visits to the neediest families in their congregation. 
Earlier this year, during their family visits, the Vicentine Sisters found the young Larito very weak, neglected and with some evidence of domestic violence. The two older brothers were never not home during the day as his sister tries to sell some produce in the market and the brother helps a local goat shepherd. Larito was left on his own, home alone or roaming the streets. 

Larito, May 2016

While Larito does not have HIV, he was so vulnerable that the Sisters decided to take him under the HIV center. he also entered a Police reference list that tries to control school assiduity and track children with signs of abuse. With the enforced meal plan at the centre (4 meals a day), daily baths, clinical support by peadiatrician Sister Flora and its of love&care, Larito has become a happy and healthy child. He started attending school classes daily and finished his first term of Year One with an average of 16. 
ALG is so proud of our Little Heroes!

We were very sad to receive the news that Sister Lidia Pancera, our extraordinary Local Partner in SLM until her sickness absence in 2015, passed away yesterday with cancer. 

Sister Lidia was and will continue to be a reference for the work of ALG in mozambiqye, through her total dedication to the children, families and underpriviliged communities in Mozambique. It was such a privilege to work with such an amazing Local Partner!

Thank You Sister Lidia for all the tenderness and dedication to the children in the Santa Luisa Marillac school. And thank you for all the projects - School Feeding, HIV Center, After Class Support, Technical Courses, Family Huts, Child Sponsorship and her more recent dream, a new School Canteen - that allowed ALG to bring a Great Help to the region of Majangue in Mozambique.

http://tinyurl.com/LidiaSLM