We work for decades in poor rural areas. While promoting education for development, we come across several inspirational stories education. These are some of our NGO stories:
Inácio F. has been the mission manager in Mangunde since 2009, but his path has not always been easy. It would have been easier to give up studying. Despite all the difficulties he encountered on the way when he was younger, it was with much effort and perseverance that Inácio continued his studies and today he is a manager and teacher.
Inácio, born into a humble family, the son of farmers, comes from Chinica, Chibabava district, a rural area with few services and few schools. It was very difficult for the family to pay for his studies. He only had one pair of slippers, some trousers, shorts and a shirt. He started school in Chinica and knew that he wanted to study, but he had to move in with other family members a few times to get ahead in his studies.
When he reached secondary school, he studied at the mission in Mangunde. During the holiday period, he rarely visited his family who encouraged him to leave school and get married when he was only in 8th grade. For the family, it was his duty as the eldest son and “school would not get him anywhere”. So, during holidays he would stay at the mission doing work in the farmers’ fields so as to earn some money to cover his study expenses. His first job with ESMABAMA was in 2009 in radio communication, when having mobile phone reception in the area was still a mirage.
Manager Inácio benefited from a UCM “distance learning” scholarship through ESMABAMA, with funding from Sei So Frei, to pursue a degree in Geography. Today he is also a teacher contracted by the Mozambican State at Mangunde Secondary School. To his students, he tells his story to encourage them not to give up studying.
