In Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony that gained independence in 1975, the city of Chokwe is plagued by severe flooding, persistent poverty, and the consequences of a history marked by conflict and displacement. 

Since 1956, the Daughters of Charity have been working alongside the local community. Through a hospital and the São Vicente de Paulo School, which serves nearly 2,000 meals to students every day, they are dedicated to the education and health of the poorest members of the community: their daily presence allows them to stay closely attuned to the realities of these families’ lives.

Parmi ces réalités, une situation reste largement invisible : celle des enfants en situation de handicap moteur ou psychique. Les causes sont nombreuses — complications à la naissance, maladies infectieuses évitables, malnutrition et carences, non accès au système de santé — mais les réponses sont quasi inexistantes. 

These families, who are often extremely poor, do not know how to support their children. Many remain confined to their homes, live on the streets, left to fend for themselves, or are abandoned, with no access to education or appropriate care. Unfortunately, many of these children do not survive to adulthood.

“At the school, we have opened a classroom dedicated to students with special needs. Word of this initiative spread, and the families themselves, learning that we were willing to welcome these children (who had previously been placed in regular classrooms without adequate support), began bringing their children to school and referring other cases to us in the neighborhood and throughout the city.” Sr María

The Project: Helping 15 children with disabilities become more independent and envision a different future

Pour répondre à cette urgence, ces enfants handicapés moteur ou psychique bénéficieront d’un accompagnement régulier par une kinésithérapeute et des monitrices ergothérapeutes, dans un espace déjà aménagé au sein de l’école.

To address this urgent need, these children with physical or mental disabilities will receive regular support from a physical therapist and occupational therapists in a space already set up within the school.

Specifically, the program includes:

- Regular physical therapy sessions to improve the children’s mobility and independence

- Daily stimulation and occupational therapy activities tailored to each child’s needs

- Personalized monitoring to track their progress

- Close collaboration with families to provide them with the tools they need for daily life

Beyond providing medical care, this project aims to bring about lasting change: to help these children develop their abilities, reintegrate into school and society, and restore hope to their families.

“These children with disabilities ask for only one thing: a chance to grow, to learn, to move around, to communicate, a chance to live life to the fullest within their community.” Sr María

If the project raises more than its goal, any excess funds received will be allocated to a similar project.