AFRICANEWS
MOZAMBIQUEA post war challengeby Lucio Cola#o(504 words)
After 16 years of civil war in Mozambique, one of the major challenges facing the government and NGOs is the rehabilitation of those who were adversely affected by the war, especially the children. A key consequences of the war was the increase in the number of the street children. The main problem is that these children whose only home was the streets are ill equipped to lead normal lives as they lack technical or professional training in any field. At Quelimane, the Mozambican central province's capital, also called the Capital of the Coconut, there is a centre called de Trainamento Professional de Sangarivera, which aims at equipping the children with skills to enable them face the challenges of the present day Mozambique with confidence. Mrs Marta Almeida, the training officer for the street children, says the project is a programme for the children offering training opportunities in different fields. The period of preparation ranges from nine months to one and a half years, depending on the specific course one follows. Mrs Almeida says the main task now is to try and convince the children who have been in the streets for many years, that there are many better opportunities open to them in life. The centre which is financed by UNICEF is under the administration of the diocese of Quelimane. At end of the courses, the graduates are provided with basic tools and machinery to enable them settle down in life. Besides the street children, the centre also trains handicapped children. Because most of them suffer from hearing impairment, the centre has enlisted the services of other handicapped people as instructors. For those who require special therapy, there is a department which links them to the local provincial hospital.
How does the centre get the children from the streets?There is a team of specialised personnel whose responsibility is to go to the streets and talk to the children about the opportunities available for them at the centre. At one time, former street children were also used for the mission but was later discontinued.Once the training is over, some of the children request to be re-integrated into their respective families. For those in this category, there are people whose duty is to locate the parents of such children. In most cases, such volunteers opt to re-unite with their parents, but some choose to join their grandparents especially if the parents have re-married. Once the centre formulates its curriculum that is approved by the Ministry of Labour, it will be able to award diplomas in different fields of specialisation. The Diocese of Quelimane has engaged Sister Eva to run the centre. Church members also provide support, especially by ensuring that discipline is maintained among the young people. The centre currently has about 100 children, although only about 60 turn up regularly. Every possible measure is taken to ensure that as many trainees as possible complete their courses. There is another programme for the rehabilitation of the former soldiers being run by the same diocese.
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