Let’s start this newsletter with the showpiece of 2024: Festival d’ Arte. It has yet to take place, but Titos, Geertrui and Marjon have already committed so much to this festival. For which many thanks! All invited artists and musicians have confirmed their participation, and flights and accommodation have already been booked.
We welcome four artists from Maputo, one from South Africa, two from Zimbabwe and 2 from Nampula/Ilha. On a musical level we are pleased with the participation of Trio Vagalumes from Switzerland, Jardinot from Nampula and of course Cantata with Francisco. Bacar has also confirmed again. We´re very pleased with this friendly man and his great musical efforts with the children.
With music also belongs local dance. This choreography is provided by Natercio from Beira. We conclude with Yara. She is participating with her art installation “Nakhodma and the Mermaid”. We are proud of the group it has becom
Finally, we would like to thank the Dutch Embassy for their cooperation, distributing flyers in Maputo and for their promised presence.
Abdul from the Museum has also been contributing. He created the invitation letter for the guests and completed the program for the final day with speakers. The museum café and shop are also being put in tip-top condition again.
This year the focus is certainly on the children. There are two special days for the children, one in Lumbo and one on Ilha. Afroivan will do a street art project together with the older children, various workshops with the little ones and musical activities for all children.
There is still some work to be done, but most of the work has been done and it promises to be a great Festival.
ESCOLINHA
The new school year started again at the end of January with 75 children. A few more students join us every week. And this number has now risen to 92. The baker is baking moringa rolls again and we are also donating vegetables and moringa for lunches. Twice a month there is a reading day for all the little ones with the books from my Book Buddy. Every Tuesday morning there are reading sessions with a changing group in the Community Center.
Community Cente
Everything is going well at the community center and classes have resumed. Two mornings of English, an hour and a half of computer lessons every day, homework assistance, literacy, tufu dance class and reading (aloud) mornings every Tuesday. In between, creative afternoons are organized for the children and there are regularly well-attended consultation days.
For the computer class, there was an urgent request for another laptop.
MATERNIDADE
Various supplies such as Diabetes strips and gel for the ultrasound have been delivered to Licinia.
The necessary papers have been arranged with Carolina for the arrival of volunteers so that they can work in the maternidade at any time when they are here. This permission has been obtained and contractually recorded by the director of the Nampula district.
In the meantime, Paulien (midwife) has started her month of volunteer work in Lumbo. Things are going great, she and we are very happy with her work. After this period, an extensive report from Paulien herself will be posted on the website.
What is also nice is that women keep reporting to Isha and Annette to participate.
The solar panels and materials are loaded and left on the boat with the container. There are delays everywhere so we wait for the arrival. Lumbo is ready!
