Mozambique is one of the world’s poorest countries—70 percent of Mozambicans live below the poverty line.  Emerging from Portuguese colonial rule without a viable infrastructure or systems in place, Mozambique has struggled through its independence facing war, communism, famine and disease.  Children across the country die of preventable and treatable diseases. The AIDS pandemic is an overwhelming problem.  Over 80 percent of Mozambicans farm or raise animals to feed their family, mostly at a subsistence level.

Raising Healthy Children
Since 1992, Mozambique’s child survival program has proved a revolutionary, cost-effective model using dedicated volunteers to share health, nutrition and hygiene lessons.  In Chokwe, Mozambique, the child mortality rate was cut in half as every household in the village had messages reinforced by their neighbors.

When asked if the change in health practices would last after the program ended, one woman said, “We have a question for you.  A person has been a slave for many years, but somebody buys them their freedom.  How long will it be before they go back to being a slave again?”

Raising Leaders
As HIV spreads through communities, the church is uniquely poised to offer help to people living in their communities.  Visiting people with the disease, offering home care, and extending friendship to them, volunteers ease the loneliness often felt by those living with the disease and offer tangible support. Pastors and church volunteers encourage abstinence before marriage and fidelity inmarriage. Child Development programs have reached over 120,000 youth through our interactive Mobilizing Youth for Life program.

“Already, most of our youth are leaders in their local churches,” said Sybil, World Relief’s Child Development Director in Mozambique.  “If we can continue to move upwards in this battle, our goal is to see an educated, AIDS-free generation of Christian leaders.”

Raising Animals and Opportunities
Agricultural programs help sustain volunteer networks, people living with AIDS, and orphans and vulnerable children.  Chicken and livestock projects provide food and income.  Since 2005, Fundo de Crédito Comunitário (FCC) has offered 4,000 clients business development assistance, planning advice, integrated agricultural programs and small loans.

As World Relief and the church embrace their community and begin to build up healthcare networks, economic opportunities, and compassionate solutions for the poor and suffering in their midst, Mozambique can begin to see transformed hearts, lives and communities.