International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cresent Societies - 28 July 2003
Marko Kokic in Maputo

Their less than modest home is situated within a labyrinth of fences made from flattened steel drums. The ground is saturated with water, this whole area being prone to flooding.

A small, dark and sparsely furnished shack is all they have to protect them from the elements. Their poverty is absolute. "We have had to sell some of our furniture and roofing material to buy food," admits Cristina who hadn't eaten all day.

Fernando starts his day early, cooking what food is available, washing clothes, cleaning up and caring for his mother who can no longer walk. This he does every day before going to school.

Cristina's condition is getting steadily worse and she is worried about what will happen to him should she die. Her only consolation is that she is no longer in pain. Fernando remains a quiet and shy boy but his eyes betray his concern for his mother.

In the neighbouring Bairro do Aeroporto, 16-year old Florencio Tamele is still mourning the death of his mother, Veronica, who passed away less than a week ago. Veronica's identity card reveals she was only 32, her childlike signature suggesting that she was probably illiterate.

Now Florencio is left to care for his grandmother with no income. He is in grade six and dreams of one day teaching Portuguese.

But for these and other vulnerable children some assistance is available. The Centro de Boa Esperança, run by the Mozambique Red Cross Society, has been caring for children since 1990.

It started during Mozambique's civil war, taking in orphans, children separated from their parents or just fleeing fighting in rural areas. In these times of peace, the Centro looks after vulnerable children such as orphans, those who have been abandoned or live on the street. It has the capacity to care for 150 children at a time.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to decimate families in Mozambique. The current prevalence rate is 13 per cent, though it is higher in Maputo. There are currently close to half a million orphans. Modernisation, HIV/AIDS and the poverty-driven erosion of traditional family structures in urban areas mean that the extended family as a social safety net is fast disappearing for vulnerable children.

"We have seen the number of orphans increase in the last few years. It is probably a result of HIV/AIDS. All I know is that the situation is worse today than during the war," explains Maria Jose, director of the centre.

"Before, a child had at least a mother or a father to care for them. But now we are seeing more and more children with no one left. In cases where a parent is still alive they are usually sick so the child is caring for them instead of going to school," she adds.

Left to their own devices children, especially boys, turn to the street. Families tend to retain girls because they can work in the home but they are vulnerable to sexual abuse. Ultimately, society as a whole pays the price when these children become adults, as the ever-growing violent crime rate in Maputo demonstrates.

The Centro de Boa Esperanza cares for children between the ages of seven and 19. Every second day, 75 children are washed and fed. If necessary, they receive free medical services if accompanied to the local hospital by the Red Cross staff. To build up their self-confidence, the children are taught crafts such as basket weaving, sewing and carpentry.

Normally, only children in crisis or with no other place to go may remain overnight. The focus for homeless children is reintegrating them back into their families or finding alternative families to care for them.

"The root of the problem is that some families are so poor they just cannot afford to support their children," says Maria. "We have seen that if we can provide for some of the material needs for the children, reintegration back into families is very easy".

Eight-year old Helena Chemane is one of the vulnerable children cared for by the centre for the past two years. Her story speaks volumes about some of the problems children have to endure.

Her father died two years ago. His family wanted Helena's mother to marry his brother. To their displeasure, she refused. The family accused her of bringing about her husband's death through sorcery and threw her and her two children out of the home.

Helena's mother was sheltered by another organization, while the centre helps by partially supporting Helena. Recently her mother has found work.

For children like Fernando, Florencio and Helena the future remains difficult. But with the help of the Red Cross Centro de Boa Esperança they are offered some concrete assistance.

For Fernando and Florencio this means that they can continue going to school. For Helena it means that she is less of a burden to her mother. A helping hand provided by the Red Cross Centro de Boa Esperanca can go a long way in promoting the future of these vulnerable children.

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