Mozambique

Samaritan's Purse has been working in Mozambique since 2000 when the country experienced dangerous flooding. During the disaster, we helped thousands with food, water, shelter, medical attention, community development, and Gospel outreaches. Mozambique is one of four East African countries where Samaritan's Purse has launched a comprehensive HIV/AIDS program to strengthen the Christian response to the pandemic.

Note From the Field

Prospering Through Farming

From country director Craig Whitlock

“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce…”Jeremiah 29.4-5

The above verses precede a portion of Scripture that is often recited, Jeremiah 29.11, “The plans I have for you, declares the LORD, are plans to prosper you and not harm you.” When this verse is contextualized by the preceding verses we find a command that may appear odd and even mundane to a Westerner, “build houses… plant gardens and eat their produce.”

Now how is that a plan to “prosper” us? What of becoming the next great astronaut? Or a neurosurgeon? Or the next billionaire philanthropist?

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Not saying that any of those are unproductive pursuits, but what of becoming a farmer? Permit me a moment to directly quote a poor Mozambican woman and why I pray there will be thousands who follow in her footsteps of farming in developing countries.

Isaura Ndangane is a 61-year-old widow who belongs to an association Samaritan’s Purse helped create, intended to serve widows and vulnerable children through training that will help them build sustainable lives via agronomy & agro-business.

Isaura heads a household of nine comprised of five of her own children and four grandsons. This is what she said during an interview with our staff:

“I am very happy for being part of this association bearing in mind the difficulties I suffered in the past. I did not know what to do to support my family, without any business, and worse without rain to irrigate. I joined after being invited by the local community leader to become part in the association that is composed by widowers and female heads of households that is being assisted by Samaritans Purse. I was given a small individual portion of land and I started ploughing. I produced maize, cassava, pumpkin and beans to feed my family and the remaining for selling in order to buy school materials and clothes for my children and grandchildren. It was so good for me to have accepted this invitation because I can see the fruits I am getting. A day hardly passes without food because I am fighting to have something for them. I am glad that my effort rewards me because my children are no longer running away from school because of hunger. Now, I can say that I am able to have a control on my family in terms of food, clothes, and school materials.

“First my many thanks to the Lord and secondly to SP that has shown me the way of getting out from the poverty I was immersed in. Even so, I cannot stop asking God to keep on protecting me and giving me more power to continue working hard to sustain my family. May God bless Samaritan’s Purse to keep on helping the vulnerable members of communities.”

May the LORD continue to bless Isaura. Amen!

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PROJECTS

Home Based Care

With an increase in the number of people living with HIV/AIDS, the gap continues to widen between the demand for, and the availability of, healthcare services. This program provides churches with the resources and support to care for the chronically ill. Home Based Care is a more accessible and affordable alternative to hospital care for many low-income individuals. The program also strengthens the bond between faith communities and health facilities.

Church Mobilization Project
This project is designed to encourage churches to join the fight against HIV/AIDS. Program goals include reducing the stigma associated with the epidemic, educating Christians about HIV/AIDS and training church members to properly care for people living with the disease.

Nossa Familia!
Samaritan's Purse provides support to more than 3,500 orphans and vulnerable children through education, protection, shelter, food, and psycho-social support. We also recruit community volunteers and train them how to properly care for these children.

Bio Sand Filters
Since 2001, Samaritan's Purse has installed more than 7,200 bio sand filters—a household water treatment system—to make clean drinking water available to the people of the Mozambique's Guija District. The filters are made of concrete, gravel, and sand and provide ideal intervention for communities with easy access to surface water.

Hygiene and Sanitation Promotion
In addition to providing bio sand filters, Samaritan's Purse also offers hygiene and sanitation education, focusing on personal hygiene, food preparation, household sanitation, and latrine construction.

Borehole Rehabilitation Program
In densely populated areas, Samaritan's Purse works with communities to construct and rehabilitate hand-dug wells and boreholes. In 2007, we rehabilitated 19 boreholes with community support. After a project is completed, we then offer maintenance training to community members who will assume responsibility for upkeep.

HIV/AIDS Youth Education Program
This program trains and equips church and community leaders to teach, mentor, and show by example how youth can stop the spread of HIV. Samaritan's Purse began the 5-year HIV prevention and behavior change program in 2005 and has reached more than 63,000 youth through 3,000 trained youth educators.

Food Aid Program
Samaritan's Purse is partnering with Mozambique's government to reduce food insecurity in its drought-prone southern region. Samaritan's Purse has also partnered with the World Food Program since 2002 and provides emergency food supplies and feeding programs for people living with AIDS, the chronically ill, and orphans and vulnerable children. The seed multiplication program also provides agricultural training in the production of drought-resistant plants.

Livestock Program
Samaritan's Purse provides technical and market support services to small-scale livestock and farmers' associations. We also support orphans and vulnerable children through a goat project and a broiler chicken project.

HIV/AIDS Prevention, Counseling, and Testing Program
A new curriculum called "One Love" is being implemented in three districts to focus on faithfulness among 25-49 year olds. Community-based counseling and testing are also a part of a pilot activity in partnership with the Ministry of Health. Counselors are selected among church members and pastors, who already have a passion for providing guidance and support.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Our Field Staff. Please pray for guidance, strength, and safety of Samaritan's Purse staff.

Flooding Victims. For the second consecutive year, Mozambique has experienced major flooding in the country's central region. Extremely heavy seasonal rains have displaced thousands, who are often the nation's poorest and most vulnerable. Please pray for a quick recovery for those affected.

Church Mobilization Programs. Please pray that our Church Mobilization Programs in Africa will motivate Christians to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS through abstinence and faithfulness.