Young Africa - Week 3

Our third week is over and we are becoming quite aware that our time is running out! We have finished our work in Munhava Orphanage. They invited us back for a morning of face painting and balloon modelling, as well as a few thank you songs and more of their amazing dance moves! For many of us this has been the highlight so far, as we got to see how our work puts smiles on the faces of the staff and kids of Munhava, and how we are really appreciated. We found it difficult enough to keep up with all that energy so early in the morning, but it was well worth it!

On the Young Africa campus this week we have been working on building Machesas, which are study huts with thatched roofs and concrete table and seats underneath. It is nice to be getting out and about on the campus, getting to know the guys who work and study here. Through a mix of English, Portuguese and Shona we are managing to have a laugh and form friendships while working. Relationships really are as important as the actual work on this trip, as getting to know the locals personally makes our time here much richer.

The hostel arts project is pretty much wrapped up, and the hostel girls have a created a beautiful canvas which will be brought back to Ireland for exhibition before returning to Young Africa in Mozambique. The canvas, like the circles project last week, is focussed on the past and present. Through images of flowers, each individual girl has outlined who she is, where she has come from, and where she is going. Because of the language barrier at first it felt as if the concept would be a difficult one to get across, but it worked out wonderfully and it is great to be able to read all about their aspirations. There are future business women, teachers, doctors, activists and lawyers in the hostel, and we are lucky to have met them.

Raj took some of us to visit the future site of the next Young Africa project in Dondo, not too far from the campus in Manga. We got a glimpse of his vision of a future agricultural college, as well as meeting some local small farmers who were very interesting to listen to. It is great that we have got to see so many different aspects to the area, as well as getting some insight into how sustainable development can work.

It is strange to be heading into our final week of work, knowing that we will be on the plane back to Ireland very soon!