ASVIMO children, Mozambique
ASVIMO is the Associaçäo de Apoio às Viuvas e Crianças Vulneràveis de Moçambique (Mozambican Association to Support Widows and Vulnerable Children)
My name is Dacepho Katacepho. I am the community development officer for ASVIMO. We try to help all the orphans who live in and around Dondo town, which is on the Beira Corridor. Many of these children have been left destitute and without any means of livelihood and support, after the death of one or both of their parents.
One of our most important tasks is to help some of these orphans obtain their identity cards. It is common in poor, rural areas such as this for children not to have identity cards. This may not be serious while their parents are still alive and can support them, but once they are orphaned, not having the card restricts their access to school, health services and social welfare support. Once they have the card, we can then arrange for them to get their Certificate of Poverty (Certidao de Pobreza). This confirms that they are poor, and they can then go to school without paying school fees and get support for school supplies and uniforms.
