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"Please send someone to teach us!" cried the community of Nhataca,
Gorongosa two years ago to FHI agriculture staff. Their interest
was the result of one man’s success at convincing his neighbors of the
benefits of participation. This man, Pascal Afice, is now the secretary
of his local marketing group, as well as for the entire zone. He
explained that in the first year he received instruction on basic techniques
to raise his production. This year the focus is on marketing his
surplus production with other members of his group. “The great quantity
of products that we are able to put together as a group makes it easier
to find a buyer at a good price.” He commented.
As secretary for the zone
Pascal is kept busy. “The zone officers get together and compare
data. Then they try to distribute this information outside of the district
to find a buyer.” He went on to explain that it is his job to handle
the preoccupations of the group. The people trust and listen to him.
“We want to be known as a group that’s working together and accomplishing
something,” Pascal boasted. Right now the group is working on widening
the path to the road. This will not only make them more accessible
for buyers, but also will help the local ambulance reach that area.
Next year the group is thinking of having a communal farm of sesame, because
the price is good and together they can work a bigger field.
Pascal Afice is not the
only one in his family that is kept busy these days. His wife, Polena
João (first one on the left), participates along side him in the
extensionist training and also in FHI’s Health Program. She is very
satisfied with both trainings she receives. She has noticed a difference
in her production. In addition, at the time of the interview she
had sacks of maize on the way to being sold. Pascal and his wife
are thankful for the extra income. Last year he bought a bicycle,
and this year he hopes to buy tin roofing for his house. Polena will spend
her money on soap, schoolbooks, and clothes for the children.
Tomás Alberto Mosqueiro faced a lot
of problems during his childhood due to the war going on in
our country. When the war became intense his uncle took him to a
refugee center in the neighboring country of Malawi, where they stayed
until the peace accord of 1992. At that time, he was reunited with his
parents. They stayed a while longer in Malawi waiting for the resettlement
program to start but eventually returned in 1997. With the help of FHI's
Child Development Program, Tomàs Alberto was finally able to start
school at the age of eleven.
Tomas said, "I prayed for God's favor. My parents lost nearly every
thing during the war; they have no money for me to study. And God
heard my prayer."
Tomas was among those who were interviewed and was adopted as one of
CDP sponsored child in their first year in his community. He started Grade
1 and currently he is in Grade 5.
Tomàs Alberto lives in community that lacks many basic needs.
Currently they are facing food shortages due to crop damage caused by last
year's floods. This year there was not enough rain at the right time,
and, once again, the harvest will be small. Another problem faced by his
community is the distance (6kms) they have to walk to get to the hospital.
The diseases that affect the community the most are malaria, asthma, anemia,
tuberculoses and malnutrition.
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