Mozambique Keep Kids in School Fund

On a recent trip to Mozambique, we met local school teacher Orlando Jose, and was touched by his story. 

He explained that children often don't make it past the first few years of primary school, because they lack motivation to go. The result is a largely uneducated population, which is the main reason the country suffers so much poverty and hardship. Funding and aid often never reaches smaller towns and communities, due to corruption and the sheer volume of people in need.

Most kids walk barefoot through searing hot sand in the blistering heat for 14kms just to get to class: a hot, concrete room with a chalk board. Some classes even run under trees due to lack of resources. Most don't have the basic supplies we take for granted in the western world: pencils, exercise books, school shoes... and lunch. 

So it's not surprising that so many kids drop out of school. I couldn't walk for 30 seconds barefoot in the hot sand there, so the thought of 14kms each way, 5 days a week is unimaginable. 

Through Orlando's Book Is My Future school project, he aims to raise funds to buld kits of basics to motivate kids to go to school, and keep them there. Most urgent are exercise books and school shoes, followed by pencils, rulers erasers, pens, school bags, sharpeners and uniforms.

So far, the Mayor of Inhambane (the region the funds will go to) has donated enough money for half the exercise books needed. There is a long way to go. 

Time has been spent formalising the school's needs and the school year has just began. Funds are needed urgently to prevent more school drop outs.

 

WHERE WILL MY MONEY GO?

Vondo Primary school, 320km from the capital city of Inhambane. There are 380 students, currently with 310 in critical need of supplies. These children have difficulties in reading and writing due to the sheer lack of supplies and resources available. The funds will initially be focused grade 3-7, where the highest rate of drop outs exist. 

HOW YOUR DONATION HELPS

Anything you can give helps (amounts shown in AU dollars and South African Rands)

$15 AU - a school bag (R150)
$15 AU - school shoes (R150)
$12 AU - school uniform (R120)
$6 AU - exercise book, pencil, eraser, pen, sharpener and ruler (R60)
$5 AU - colour pencils and colouring book (R50)
$5 AU - school bag (R50)
$58 AU - provides a full school kit for one child! (R580)

$58 AU - provides a full school kit for one child!

HOW DO I KNOW MY DONATION MAKES IT TO WHERE ITS NEEDED?

This is a completely non-for profit project. Every cent you donate will go directly to the Orlando, the project manager, to ensure supplies are purchased and the school is held accountable.

You will receive an activity report within 3 months of your donation from the project manager, via the school director.

Initially, we were going to organise shipments of supplies from South Africa and Australia, but soon realised the money spent on shipping and import taxes would strip funds donated, where they could be used to purchase more supplies. Supplies are also much cheaper in Mozambique, meaning your dollar goes a lot further!

*** Any donation is hugely appreciated, no matter how small*** Update: the beneficiary has been updated into my name (Luanne shneier) from Orlando’s, as GoFundMe does not support Moazambique bank accounts. The funds will be transferred to my account, and then sent to Orlando via Western Union