REDUCING DISTANCES (SCHOOL PROJECT) | NAMPULA

Natoa students walk 15km to continue studies

Natoa is a small village along the national road that connects the North and South of Mozambique. Located in the District of Rapale, the village is approximately 16km from the city of Nampula.

Despite being relatively close to the city, the village is extremely rural, without access to running water or electricity. A well dug with a manual hand-pump serves the entire village and local school.

Although the primary activity of the area is subsistence farming, the farmlands are not very fertile and therefore the area is considered one of extreme poverty. Residents live principally on the production and sale of grains. The severe economic conditions have direct repercussions on the access to education, and each year student attrition in school is very high.

Very few students continue to study past primary school, and those who do struggle to arrive as they must walk over 2 hours in each direction to the nearest school. During this past school year, 9 students from Natôa continued to study at the secondary school of Namaíta, 15 km from their village. On very lucky days, if a student could sell products from his or her farm, they might be able to take a public bus. On most days, the group walks together to seek safety in unity as they walk along the national road.

This project will provide bicycles to each of the 9 students from Natôa. A bicycle will significantly change the quality of life for each of these students and motivate them to persevere in their studies. They will also be used to help their families to sell more of their farming crops, adding to the overall livelihoods for their families.

This project will provide bicycles to each of the 9 students from Natôa. A bicycle will significantly change the quality of life for each of these students and motivate them to persevere in their studies. They will also be used to help their families to sell more of their farming crops, adding to the overall livelihoods for their families.

This project will provide:

• 9 Bicycles
• Transport to remote village of Teacane in Northern Mozambique
• Spare parts and accessories (Led light, pumps, tools and patch kit)
• Basic training for all 9 students on bicycle care and maintenance