The great emergency that has hit Italy in recent months has not spared our missions: in Mozambique similar measures to those in our country have been taken, with shops closed and activities suspended. The artistic projects in Maputo and the solidarity ice cream shop in Ressano Garcia are temporarily stopped but the kids continue to work, rethinking the activities so as to carry them out safely as soon as it is possible to start again. The university structures are also closed but, as in Italy, teaching activities are continuing and the kids from the project “Study for me, Study for you, Study for us” who have a computer are able to follow the lessons remotely, albeit with many difficulties. But not everyone has the possibility of having a computer or a stable connection. For this reason, we are trying to provide each of them with electronic devices that allow them to follow the lessons and we are helping them to pay for the internet connection: losing the possibility of taking exams in this period would force them to repeat the year with a great increase in school costs.

This project was born from AGAPE’s desire to go beyond the distance support of the young people it has supported in recent years: Mozambique is a country with rapid economic growth that, however, does not go hand in hand with the increase in the number of jobs. Educational opportunities are very few and often accessible only by the lucky few who have a family that can support them financially. In fact, public universities have limited places and very limited, while private ones have exorbitant costs for any young person who does not have help behind them. This means that the ruling class, which should lead the country towards sustainable growth that is widespread for the entire population, is made up of a few privileged people or foreigners, and postpones the moment in which Mozambicans will be the true architects of their own future.

AGAPE does not like this: our mission is to ensure that young people become independent and responsible for their own future and that of their country, so that they themselves can make a difference for their fellow countrymen. For this reason, the young people to whom we give financial support are asked to become volunteers for the organization and to make themselves available to their community by raising awareness and providing training. The young people, once independent, will take another young person under their wing and finance him or her just as AGAPE did with them, creating a virtuous circle that will give us the opportunity to help more and more young people.

And we do not want to stop there: we also want to help them enter the world of work through internships and trainings in Mozambique and Italy. It is an ambitious project, which requires a lot of organization and money, but we strongly believe in these kids and in the desire of our companies to give them a chance and to transmit to them those skills that can also help the companies themselves to open a path of internationalization within this large developing country, creating that new ruling class made up of young Mozambicans that is not yet present.

These are the young adult who want to change Mozambique:

• ABSSALONE lived inside the Center that Agape supported financially. When he was younger, he had some behavioral problems, but now he is one of the kids we are proudest of: he has grown a lot and gives free lessons to the children and adults of his community. This desire to help others is also reflected in what he would like to study next year: Law!
• VÂNIA approached us last year and told us about one of her dreams: studying Computer Engineering. She comes from a very humble family that could not allow her to attend the polytechnic institute, but we want to give her this opportunity;
• HENRIQUES has always been a great scholar and asked us to continue pursuing this passion of his even after high school: he would like to study International Law;
• ARMANDO, after a year of pharmacy in which he achieved great results, understood that his passion was another: Civil Engineering. He wants to build and improve the infrastructure of Mozambique, making a tangible contribution to this country;
• JOSÉ MARIA has been studying Environmental Engineering for two years, a very important topic all over the world, and even more so in Mozambique. Furthermore, he is one of our most active volunteers: every week he works within one of Agape’s partners that deals with environmental awareness and often goes to his community to raise awareness of this problem that is so urgent all over the world;
• TILFO is a student in Energy Engineering, who is studying in Brazil. He is almost ready to graduate and he wants to take this opportunity to thank all the donors of AGAPE for the opportunity that was given to him and that changed his life!