The ANDA centre, Mozambique
ANDA is the Associaçäo Nacional para o Desenvolvimento Auto-Sustentado (National Association for Self-Sufficient Development)
My name is Tiago Jaime. I am the co-ordinator of ANDA, an organisation that works for community development in Manica and the surrounding villages.
Today is the first day that we are opening this centre, which we have built for orphans and other vulnerable children. These are some of the 200 or so children who we expect will attend every day. They will receive a meal and there will be vocational training for them. We also want them to come here to play and support each other.
In the past, we have been helping these children in their homes. But we realised that with all the difficulties that they face in their home environment, it would be a good idea to build a centre like this, which would be a safe place for them to come to every day.
The figures show that around 21 per cent of adults in this area are HIV positive. Many of these children could grow up to be at risk of being infected themselves, so we believe that it is important for us at this centre to give these children some regular education about the dangers of HIV and AIDS. We also plan to introduce some counselling and psychosocial support for children who have been traumatised by the loss or illness of their parents or other loved ones.
It is very difficult to meet the needs of the community in a situation where there is so much poverty. With this centre, we can offer some help to those who live within a close enough walking distance. But there are many others who live too far away and we have to try to find the resources to help them as well.
