PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Macia is a small town located between Maputo, which is the capital of Mozambique, and Beira by the Indian Ocean. Since the turn of the millennium, EBM INTERNATIONAL has been active in this area with their Baptist partner, the Convençao Baptista do Moçambique. By now, there is a big social center in which the Baptists from Austria played a significant role in putting up. It is especially important to show initiative in disadvantaged rural areas in Macia in order for the children and youth to have a chance to learn and develop.
Today our missionary Sara Marcos is working in the center with a local team of staff members directed by Sara Chavane. On the premises, there is also a Baptist church that is filling the place with life and possibilities.
The social center has three main focuses: There is an extracurricular program offered to kids and youth in which about 30 to 40 kids participate on a regular basis. They receive a warm meal, help with their school work, and loving christian fellowship which gives them hope and stability. In addition to that there is a group of more than 10 kids with disabilities that are being integrated in the center. It’s a big concern in cooperation with other organisations in that area to enable access to school as well as further education and a normal everyday life to these young people.
Women in many families that are connected to the social center are carrying a heavy load. Even though they are in charge of all the chores at home and on the field and they also take care of their families beyond that, they are often disadvantaged. Sara Marcos tries to take extra care of their education and promotion when working with the staff.
In a country where many people live at the risk of poverty, where natural disasters, HIV and AIDS pandemic increase the problems, the support of individuals through specific care and education brings a life changing chance.
