Location
Chimundo, Gaza Province, Mozambique
Community Description
Mozambique is located in southeastern Africa, bordered by the Indian Ocean on the east, Tanzania on the north, Malawi and Zambia on the northwest, Zimbabwe on the west and Swaziland and South Africa on the southwest.
This project is situated in Chimundo, which began as an expansion neighborhood for the nearby district capitol of Chibuto. Although this neighborhood arose in the late 1970s, it was only after bad floods in 2000, causing loss of lives and the destruction of many houses in the Limpopo River Valley, that many people moved to Chimundo.
Chimundo has about 1,112 families consisting of 5,560 people. Some of the major problems Chimundo faces are: food security, high infant mortality (due to causes such as diarrhea, malaria, and bacterial diseases), high percentage of population living with HIV/AIDS, and low literacy levels. The HIV/AIDS epidemic that plagues Mozambique is a factor that contributes greatly to the growing number of orphans and vulnerable children in the area.
The community center is a response created by concerned community members designed to alleviate these problems and improve the lives of the Chimundo citizens.
In 2004, a project was started by a group of Franciscan nuns to respond to the needs of many flood victims who lost their houses. The project is divided into the following areas: a pre-school, an after-school program, a training center, and a recreational center.
The pre-school promotes the growth and development of motor, cognitive, and social skills for the young children. The after-school program is a space where school-aged children come for homework help and to occupy their free time constructively. The training center offers English, information technology, carpentry, and basket-weaving classes for youth and adults. The recreational center provides activities, such as films, for the enjoyment of Chimundo’s citizens.
Although the community center has the infrastructure to house these activities, such as a pre-school classroom, an after-school classroom, and a building that serves as the training and recreational center, it lacks a sanitary bathroom.
Project Description
This project is to construct a bathroom at the community center. It will be built with cement blocks and a tin roof. It will have facilities for males and females, and will be equipped with basic plumbing.
Project Impact
There are 35 children ranging from 2-5 years old who attend the pre-school every day who will benefit from this project.
In addition, the community members who participate in the other areas such as tutoring, carpentry class, English lessons, and information technology classes will also benefit from the project.
The total number will be 100 persons who directly benefit, and all of the 5,500 inhabitants of Chimundo will benefit indirectly.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Gracey Uffman
Comments
The construction of an appropriate bathroom will greatly help the caretakers of the pre-school to better provide for the children of the center. In addition, the persons participating in the other activities at the center will also benefit from the sanitary facilities.
This project satisfies a critical basic need at a very low cost.
Dollar Amount of Project
$499.00
Donations Collected to Date
$499.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has been fully funded, through the generosity of Marian Uffman, of Baton Rouge, LA, USA with the help of Gracey’s friends.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Gracey Uffman of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Gracey and/or those of her counterpart PCVs in Mozambique.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.