Special day for street children in Maputo, 750 euro

As a result of a long, devastating civil war, which ended in 1992, there are many street children in Maputo (Mozambique). With the help of various NGOs their number decreased steadily in the 90s. However, now that most NGOs have left Mozambique, this number has increased again to about 500. At the moment, Centro Encontro is the only charity still working with street children.

Centro’s work consists of education (street school), providing meals and clothes, and supplying medication. Centro also organises information evenings about STDs and hygiene.
Most children supported by the Centro are not criminals but work for a living. This, however, is becoming more difficult because nowadays a licence is needed for employing children. As a result, many children end up as prostitutes. Moreover, the government is treating them harshly; they are regularly arrested and taken to corrective institutions in other provinces. Centro de Encontro has distributed new clothes and soap so that the children are less recognisable as street children.

For the kids of Centro de Encontro it is becoming more and more difficult to cope. In addition to the decrease in support and aggressive government policies, there is now also a group of young men who have started their own street gangs using smaller children as beggars. To make things worse, criminal, armed gangs of youth appear frequently from other countries, such as South Africa. 

In order to inform the larger public about the problems of street children Centro de Encontro organises, with the help of other youth organisations, a street children day in Maputo for and by street children. The programme consists of a football festival, a rap competition, speeches and theatre about the street children’s situation, plus a meal for everyone. About 300 children are expected to participate.

Moments of Joy would like to make a contribution of 750 euro for equipment/meals, transport and video about the event (for YouTube, among other things).

Total € 750,-- 

Adopted by anonymous foundation

More realized projects