April 6, 2005
By Kathy L. Gilbert

MAPUTO, Mozambique – "Witch daughters," orphans, unemployed women and uneducated children all have places to go and resources to seek a better life thanks to the United Methodist Women's Society in Mozambique.

The Women's Society is the equivalent of United Methodist Women in the United States. The society is funded through Advance Special projects, the Women's Division of the Board of Global Ministries and other sources such as the Mozambique Initiative in Missouri.

The Women's Society oversees projects designed primarily to help women become self-sufficient, such as: Tsalala Training Center and primary school Janene Pennel Primary School Chimedza Training Center Cabo Delgado Training Center Pastor's Wives Training Center Teles Orphanage Hanhane Women's Shelter Public Health Center, Maputo

At the Tsalala Center, on the outskirts of Maputo, 32 women learn to dye cloth, design clothing and sew. The six-month course teaches skills so women can earn a living for themselves, says Judite Gemo, coordinator of the center, which also operates an elementary school for children from the first to fourth grades.

"In the beginning, the objective was to teach adult women," says Ester David Afumo, president of the Women's Society. "But when the women would come, we noticed lots of children just sitting in the trees waiting for them. That's when we thought to introduce the elementary school because we knew it would help so many."

Afumo says many children are not allowed to attend school either because their parents cannot afford to send them or they are needed to work in the fields and at home.

All of the training centers give women tools to help them escape poverty and to address problems about health care, HIV/AIDS and literacy, Gemo says. Classes in districts and churches teach women to write and read Portuguese and Xitswa. Since 1991, the classes have taught more than 500 women to read and write.

Concerned about child abuse, the Women's Society conducts seminars and lectures in churches and organizations to teach children about their roles and rights.

"Because of various factors, mostly the high cost of living and misplacement due to the war, lots of children see themselves with no other choice but to sell their bodies for survival," says Ilda Suzana Guambe, secretary of the society. War and poverty also force many children to work to care for younger brothers and sisters when their parents have died.

"As women, we are concerned with our children, both inside and outside the church," Guambe says.

The society believes its literacy program can be a source of empowerment for women who mostly live in rural areas. Once educated and trained, women have skills to create sources of income for themselves, fight discrimination, protect their children and care for the elderly.

"The United Methodist Women's Society in Mozambique has been engaged in promoting actions to minimize or eliminate social evil against women," Guambe says. Even though much has been done, she says the human and financial resources are limited and "almost insufficient."

"We thank the Almighty God for life and encouragement to save the society."

United Methodist News Service
Kathy L. Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer in Nashville, Tenn. Some information for this report was provided by a report written by Ilda Suzana Guambe, secretary of the society.