Destroyed by the flood of 2019, the Fazenda has been rebuilt through the contribution of the Focolare Movement’s Emergency Coordination Team, Famiglie Nuove Association and Azione Mondo Unito. “It was really hard after the tragedy,” said Ildo Foppo, a Focolare Volunteer, who is responsible for the mission of the Fazenda da Esperança in Dombe, Mozambique, referring to the dramatic flood which struck the country in March 2019. “But at the same time we were sure everything that happened could give new life to these places and to this community,” he added, reflecting on the most precious fruits borne of this shared commitment to reconstruction. “The ties with the local Church have strengthened, as well as with the emergency aid organizations and the whole local community. We’ve met so many people and have received many promises of help.” The devastation and necessity to rebuild actually became an opportunity to create jobs for many people. “We formed several cooperatives, each composed of ten families. In this way many were enabled to earn their own living, and start to rebuild their own future”. Now, nearly two years after the flood, the collaboration between the Fazenda and the Focolare Movement’s Emergency Coordination Team, Famiglie Nuove Association and Azione Mondo Unito, has covered repairs to the nursery, the hospital, four hostels, the secondary school and the Church. Accommodation and service blocks have been completely rebuilt. A warehouse was made available for making the cement blocks required for the construction of family houses. During the first phase of the emergency, food supplies were distributed to those who had lost their homes. 550 temporary shelters with latrines were also quickly built for the homeless families. Later a support programme was developed to promote sustainable income-generation for the population. In particular, 150 families received direct help with house repairs as well as the aquisition of seeds, fertilizer and tractor fuel to facilitate their return to agricultural production. In addition, a carpentry workshop was established which offers training and work to more than 60 young people staying at the Fazenda. And a mill was constsructed to serve around 330 families. These plans were completed despite all the recent pressures brought by Covid-19 to the country. For updates on this project and the region, click: Amu or Afn.

Claudia Di Lorenzi

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