Portugal's Camões Institute has recently approved funding for a project in Mozambique, run by the NGDO Helpo, which aims to offer individualised support to students at three secondary schools in the district of Metuge, in Cabo Delgado, a region significantly affected by population displacement due to the recent terrorist attacks.
Carlos Almeida, national coordinator of Helpo, expressed the urgency of facilitating access to education for students in the region, focusing not only on those already attending school, but also on those who, for various reasons, have dropped out of their studies in the past two years. The main aim is to re-engage them in the educational process.
Almeida highlighted the seriousness of the situation in Metuge, a district which, despite having the second-highest number of displaced people, has only three secondary schools, creating substantial barriers to access to secondary education. He also mentioned that the project has come about to benefit both the displaced and the host communities that have contributed enormously to helping them.
This promising project, entitled "Relevant Education in Emergency", has a budget of 288,545 euros and aims to promote the successful completion of the secondary education cycle, as well as to foster an atmosphere of mutual respect and harmony between displaced and resident pupils in Cabo Delgado. Camões - Institute for Cooperation and Language approved funding covering 85% of the costs, benefiting around 4,743 pupils in the region's schools.
Armed violence in northern Mozambique has displaced approximately 188,852 families, representing more than 773,000 people, according to a report released by the Executive Council of Cabo Delgado Province. The good news is that many have already begun to return to their areas of origin.
With an already established reputation, Helpo has already handed over 99 classrooms to the Ministry of Education, spread across Cabo Delgado and Nampula, an effort that has been widely recognised by local authorities. Ivaldo Quincardete, Provincial Director of Education in Cabo Delgado, stressed the positive and substantial impact these initiatives are having in the region.
Carlos Almeida explained that the new project, due to start on 1 January 2024 and last two years, will focus on providing individualised support to pupils, meeting the specific needs of each one. Some face financial difficulties that prevent them from buying uniforms or ensuring adequate food, while others need accommodation or means of transport such as bicycles to get to school.
The project also aims to break down social barriers, promoting integration and equality between displaced and resident pupils, avoiding stigmatisation and encouraging community unity and resilience. In addition, it will provide career guidance for secondary school students, helping them with the process of applying to university and choosing appropriate fields of study.
Almeida concluded by expressing the importance of making effective use of the funds provided by Camões, reiterating Portugal's continued commitment to assisting with the situation in Cabo Delgado, seeking to ensure that pupils have the opportunities they need to continue their studies and achieve a promising future.
