Continuing our series of articles on the CFAO Entrepreneurship Challenge in partnership with Xonguila Magazine, we present the seventh selected project, Recavi - Rede contra Acidentes de Viação e Protecção Infantil (Network against Road Accidents and for Child Protection). This section, which by the end of the year will have highlighted ten initiatives focused on mobility and road safety, aims to inspire and publicise innovative solutions that have an impact on the lives of Mozambicans.
Recavi, a non-profit organisation founded in 2018, plays a crucial role in preventing road accidents, with a special focus on protecting children, who are often the main victims on the roads. With a multisectoral approach, this network has been educating and raising the awareness of drivers, pedestrians, children and the community at large through awareness campaigns and training.
Mozambican roads, particularly near schools, suffer from a lack of signage and reckless driving, which put the lives of pedestrians, especially children, at risk. Aware of this reality, Recavi intervenes at critical points, implementing solutions such as the installation of barriers, speed humps, pedestrian crossings and vertical and horizontal road signs. Complementing these actions, educational campaigns and training programmes are developed for traffic activists, equipping them with first aid knowledge and preventive measures aimed at reducing accident rates.
One of Recavi's most prominent projects is "One Municipality, Zero Accidents", which aims to empower and mobilise school communities to adopt good road safety practices. This project, carried out in partnership with the traffic police, the municipal police and various local organisations, promotes talks, workshops and awareness-raising activities among pedestrians and drivers, with a special focus on children and teenagers. In schools, groups of traffic activists and marshals are trained, involving pupils, teachers and parents alike, in a genuine community mobilisation for road safety.
As well as working in schools, Recavi extends its initiatives to the business sector, offering training in road accident prevention, with an emphasis on defensive driving and the adoption of safe practices on the roads. This training is intended not only for professional drivers but also for those who, in one way or another, influence road safety.
Recently, Recavi launched awareness campaigns on radio, television and social media, reaching a wider audience and raising awareness of the importance of road safety. Under the slogan “Stop Sangue nas Estradas” (Stop Blood on the Roads), the initiatives draw attention to the use of seat belts and respect for pedestrian crossings and speed limits.
With a clear vision of becoming a benchmark in preventing road accidents and protecting children, Recavi has been expanding its activities and establishing partnerships with public and private institutions, both nationally and internationally. Over the years, the network has already trained dozens of activists, installed road signs at several schools and carried out countless awareness campaigns, with the aim of reducing the number of accidents and saving lives.
If, like Recavi, you have an initiative that contributes to mobility or road safety in Mozambique, we invite you to share your presentation by email at geral@xonguila.co.mz. Join this cause and help create solutions that make a difference in the lives of Mozambicans, as this organisation has done since its foundation. Together, we can build a safer and more accessible future for everyone.
