Home Away From Home

Working in charity has its benefits. And having my heart filled with joy to see a project come to life is top of my list. After fundraising heavily earlier in the year in order to try and support Silvestre to launch his community project to build burnt bricks. I was not entirely successful but luckily we found enough funds to kick it off. As Silvestre and his youth group of another 14 youngsters started bricks production, I knew this was something I absolutely had to do on my trip to Mozambique - to build a brick! Patiently, Silvestre guided me through the steps  - prepare the clay, fill in the brick mould by throwing the clay with as much strength as I could, cut the extra clay out with an improvised wire, remove the inner moulds and then gently but firmly push the brick out. I was proud to pull it through, and even signed it in the end. So maybe my brick won't go and be able to be part of a house or a school, but it is part of a dream, and one that I helped achieve. O...

I have been back for under 3 weeks and it already feels like so long. The ups and downs, more downs than wanted, have been immense and overwhelming.  I left Mozambique re-energized that we still found a way to go back, re-vitalized with all the plans I had, careful with notes of meetings and follow-ups, certain that everything was going to be ok. As I came back and reality started hitting, it took me until this weekend to make it through and accept it. I am not happy about it but I accept life won't always be smiling, and that yes, when it rains it pours. And by accepting I feel stronger in my conviction of enjoying the moments I have and be happy with the gifts life has given me.  I am loved, have a lovely child, have a dysfunctional family but one that loves me, have a hard job but one that I like, have a hard time coping with so many things but that is only because I have so many interests. We have struggled to feel happy this year and get back on our feet. But happin...

Leaving is always the hardest part. The uncertainty of the return; the continuity of what we are trying to develop; the weight of distance and of life on the other side. A few days ago I told UPG Portugal volunteers, who left Chokwé worrying about the unfinished work that the important thing is to focus on what was accomplished. The immensity of our mission - supporting over 2000 on a daily basis - invariably make us feel powerlessness or dissatisfied. But over the years I learn to focus on the small victories. I try to give Salvador enough hope to overcome the pain he felt over the past 2 years. I try to find out that the number of children at school is higher than the anxiety felt by the S. Vicente moms going through every product in the monthly basic basket. I try to feel that Sister Antónia’s vision for S. Luisa is stronger than the AIDS statistics that surpass every official number. Our mission is built on a case by case and child by child basis, trying to find in each one o...

Today I went back 11 years in my life…to my first trip to Mozambique as a volunteer in Escolinha do André. In this Africa day, Sister Beta marked the occasion (the teachers left because it was Africa’s day) with a sports tournament. When we arrived they already ran all over the place but the joy was still in the air. I was surrounded by children; hugs; hands that wanted to touch me; fingers searching for mine; soft strokes in my arms and in my clothes... It was the warmest welcome, and the children joined the party. It was already worth it for me. The surprise did not take long. Old students were warned that Mana ("Big Sis") Sara was coming and, for the first time, they showed up. Edia who sells in the market to provide for her 3 children – she sent the husband away… Irene has a small child and another one at the school. Salvador who was a skilled basket maker and spent two years in the Chokwé construction works… We reminisced on their lives, on their choices which drov...

Today cannot be described in any other way other than Celebration Day. From dawn to dusk the communities spoiled us and showered us with joy and gifts, always with a smile and a song. We started the day in the Banhine community where we joined the celebration (99% in changana dialect) of the Pentecost Day. From this point forward we didn’t stop celebrating. With lots of dancing, oranges, peanuts and  capolanas  (traditional cloths) we left the community with the car loaded. We talked about the importance of children’s studying and having the support of their families to enable them to make their future Little Gestures. Father Amine talked about the importance of charity. Everybody should give a little of what they have, if they do not have money they could provide other things. For instance a community Mom could, at the end of her day, help the little children practicing their ABC. It was a lively joyful visit filled with good ideas for the children’s future. We cont...