Secondary School for Mozambican Girls

The girls in Magude participating in the project More School For me continue to thrive. Although the Foundaten handed over the project to local authorities in 2013, we continue to support its functioning through enrolling the girls paying their school fees and by providing school supplies and other necessities.

The girls that passed their exams in 2013, were in the beginning of the year enrolled for yet another year in Secondary School, of which seven girls - Gloria, Sonia, Christina, Rosa, Benedita, Lidia & Felismina - were enrolled in grade 11 (having passed grade 10 in 2013) and four girls - Célia, Percina, Catarina & Melita - in grade 12 (having passed grade 11 in 2013). Sónia Christovão, Alzira and Zaineta unfortunately did not pass on to grade 11, but were enrolled once again in grade 10 this year.

During the Christmas holidays the girls left to stay with their families in their respective districts on the countryside and unfortunately one of our girls did not come back to continue her studies this year. Luisa is expecting her first baby and had therefore, as is custom, moved to her husband-to-be's family, who did not want her to continue her studies during the pregnancy. We tried to convince them to enroll her anyway in order for her studies not to be interrupted, since an interruption in most cases is never recovered, but unfortunately without sucess. We made an agreement with the family that Luisa will continue her studies, with our support, once she can combine her new life as a wife and mother with her studies, and we will do everything we can for this to become reality.

The remaining girls however are very motivated and many of them dream of a future as doctors, nurses, teachers - different professions where they can give back to other children and girls that did not get the same opportunities as they have through the project.

"I thank Lurdes Mutola Foundation and all people helping us, for everything you do for us. I want to thank you a thousand times. Thank you very much for the help I've had so far. My dream is to be a doctor because I want to help people. Now that I am studying, I am on my way to realizing my dream. Thank you!" said Lidia Augustine Lhamine, 17 years old, one of the scholarship students in Magude. 

To further motivate and enable the girls' studies, we bought school supplies consisting of school bags, pens, pencils and books that will aid the girls' development in their continued studies. This would not have been possible without your generous donations and we, along with our school girls, want to thank you from the bottom of our heart!