“-What am I doing here?” This was my first thought on 17th February during my first minutes in Mozambique. This feeling appeared at Maputo International Airport and remained on me during the taxiway to Machava (first place where I had to go to know my project leaders so, they could tell me the first instructions).
Misery, dirtiness, poorness, bad-smell, chaos, lamentable infrastructures… among other things made me being in shock during first hours in African land. It seemed to me as I was dreaming since I couldn’t believe everything my eyes were seeing. Taxi man didn’t say anything after 20 minutes on the way:

- Is this your first time in Mozambique, sir?
- Yes
- Also in Africa, sir?
- Yes
- Don’t worry sir, you will get used to all this. Mozambique people are very kind… poor but kind people.

I suppose he said these words after seeing my surprised and anguished face while I was observing everything around us. He didn’t say anything else until we arrived at Machava. I was grateful for this because I think I couldn’t answer any other question in that moment. I was suffering what it is called “cultural shock”.
This feeling changed when arriving at Machava. I met other instructors there. Some of them were with me in Denmark so, I calmed down after talking to them. They all told me to had the same feeling when they arrived there however, they were accustomed to those conditions in one or two weeks.
At this moment, after 15 days in Maputo, I agree with them.
I was two days in Machava during which I had time to meet other instructors from USA and Caribbean schools (south Americans and Americans) and their projects. The fact of arriving in a “moment of change” gave me the possibility to meet new and old instructors.
I also had time to play my first football match with EPF and Polytechnic pupils.
However, I was only looking forward to starting my “Children’s town” project the soonest possible. And finally, this took place on 19th February. My project leader, Americo Tomas and two other instructors picked me up and we went to Maputo.
I was making questions during the 45 minutes on the way. He laughs at me. I was really anxious to arrive there. The last 4-5 km were in a very bad state and full of holes. I think it could be made in 7-8 minutes in normal conditions but we took 25 minutes. Finally, we arrived. The center’s piece of ground is enormous. There are the classrooms, children, teachers and instructors houses there. All of them have only one floor.
I went directly to what is going to be my house during next 6 months and it caused me a good feeling even there isn’t water, shower, fridge, it is really hot, light doesn’t work properly… Moreover, I would be alone for more than one month. My flat mate won’t come until April: Usually, there are three instructors in each house…. maybe, I am a danger for others!!

I am going to make a brief summary about the school and it is surroundings.

Center facilities:

Classrooms are very simple. There are desks, one for every 2-3 children, a teacher’s table and a blackboard. There are about 40-50 pupils in each classroom. It is really hot there and when we open the windows, we are invaded by mosquitoes.

Offices had some computers (some of them don’t work). Internet works sometimes but slowly and teacher’s material is quite “primitive”. Chaos and disorder prevail there.

Children bedrooms are separated in boys and girls. There are 4-6 children in each bedroom. Some of them have mosquito nets in their beds but not everybody. We are waiting for more nets. Some children sleep in bunk beds, others on the floor and others in beds but without mattress. I gave them 2 not-used mattress that were in my house. The problem is that teenagers took things to the youngest ones so, I have to be alert and be sure that everybody has a mattress. There isn’t light in some bedrooms. And the youngest children among 4, 5 and 6 years old share their beds.

School: There are about 805 children at day-time (among 4-17 years) and about 100 boarders in which there are 80 children in the school and the rest is studying outside, in high schools. At night, these children come back to school to have supper and sleep. Only the boarders have breakfast, lunch and supper in the center. The rest of them go to their homes.

Courses are divided from 1 Level to 7 Level. Levels 5, 6 and 7 go to school from 7 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 1 to 5 Levels go from 12.30 p.m to 5 p.m. At 7.10 a.m. there is a formation to sing the national anthem and talk about matters to be improved. Then, at 7.30 a.m. class sessions begin. There could be mixed 11 years and 15 years students. Most of them have a very low level according to their age. Very few children can write and read correctly. We could say they have a 5 years delay in their learning. Some of them walk about 7-8 km to arrive at school.

Teachers: They are really kind people but they have poor education. As an example; one teacher told me that Mozambique population is almost the same than China or even, Mozambique is the world power in agricultural field…. However, children respect them. They make a laudable job for a miserable salary of 90 euros per month. Most of them have to take the bus during 1.30 or 2 hours and others come to school walking around 7-8 km.

Language: I don’t’ have to many inconveniences. We can communicate correctly. The fact that Spanish and Portuguese are very similar makes communications very easy. The problem appears when they talk shangaan (zone’s dialect). Then, I don’t understand anything. At this moment, I have only learned Mulungu (white). They use this term to call me when we play football.

Children: they are the best thing there. Since I arrived there, the youngest ones are behind me all the time. All of them are orphaned (motherless and fatherless), they were abandoned or their families don’t want to take any responsibility on them. Most of them were living in the streets and they stole. Since I arrived, they called me dad and the older ones called me Joao. They are lacked of affection, love, and food… “EVERYTHING!!!” however, they have always a smile in their faces and an incredible energy.  There are about 75 children among 4-14 years old and 25 children among 15-22 years old.

Food: We usually eat Shima (wheat flour purée) o Feijao (rice with beans).  We eat meat or fish very few times. If so, they mix it with rice. They have Papinha for breakfast (a kind of baby food). At weekends, they have breakfast eggs and bread sine there are a few chickens there. Last week, I start “Milk and fruit project” in order they can eat some piece of fruit or milk and cacao at teatime. I also thought to invest some money in potatoes and other food in order to make a varied diet.

School life: children get up at 5 a.m. Then, they clean and tidy their bedrooms. Oldest students help youngest ones. At 6.15 a.m. they have breakfast and when finishing, the class sessions begin. In the morning, the youngest ones are playing since they have class in the afternoon. From 5 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. in the afternoon, they have time to do their homework. Today, 1st of March, I start giving English lessons 3 times every week. I should divide children in groups since many of them want to come. They play football and other games the rest hours. At 7.30 p.m. we have supper. We eat in turns since there isn’t enough dishes, forks, knifes…for everybody. After supper, it is time to go to bed. At weekends, there are programmed different activities such as: clean their clothes, traditional games, football matches, films… However, they get up at 7 a.m. anyway.

Personal hygiene: It is really bad. Most of them have skin and scalp infections, and infected wounds since they are not treated. Not all of them have shower frequently and if so, they do it without soap. This means that the smell is not very pleasant (I already get used to it!). I have also observed that many of them are wearing the same clothes since the day I arrived here. I am looking for demanding help on this matter since, the winter is coming in one month and these children need comfortable clothes. As you could see in the pictures, the hygiene in the kitchen is also really poor.

Community: We are in the middle of nothing but there are houses in the surroundings. We take about 30 minutes to get the city center. Everybody is very respectful however, my mates advice me not to trust people and not to go out alone at night. Streets are full of small shops where we can find bread, fruit, cleaning products…. But we cannot find meat, fish or other needed refrigeration food. Houses are very small, they have only one floor and 7-8 people live there.

This is my “brief” summary about my first 15 days here. I will write about what I am doing every 15 days.
You can also find information about what donations are invested on in the website.
From here, I would like to ask you continuing with donations since they are very necessary.

Best regards,
Joao Sevilla