The collaboration that began in 2019 with AVIMAS (Association of widows and single mothers) continues. This small organization runs a nursery for children aged 0 to 5 in a neighborhood north of Maputo called Choupal, mothers have come together to find a safe and welcoming space in which to leave their children during the day, and AGAPE, together with the association Adelina Nel Mondo of Giarre (CT), is trying to support this important project.

Throughout 2020 and, probably, for a good part of 2021, the nursery will have to remain closed due to the difficulties caused by the pandemic and for this reason we have looked for new ways to support the children, who for the whole past year have not had opportunities for socialization and recreation. In particular, our music therapists have started going to Choupal accompanied by the boys from the Civil Service to bring their music workshops and the craft workshops with Gilberto, a Zimbabwean craftsman, have also started. We had already collaborated with this great artist: he had worked for a few years with the boys who lived inside the Scalabrini Center in Ressano Garcia. His works, especially animals, are made of beads and recycled materials such as coffee capsules and can tabs, and in the past years they have already arrived in Italy as solidarity gifts from AGAPE. In his workshops he teaches children this craft, which helps them improve concentration and manual skills, from the simplest to the most complex works. This year, for Christmas, we want to bring his creations back to Italy, which is why he is already working with the children and volunteers to create as many as possible, of all sizes, before shipping.

In addition, we have started to renovate a part of the school and have created a room where it will be possible for our volunteers to work, supported by a computer and internet connection, and which will be used as a warehouse for musical instruments, craft materials and for the school’s games.