2. Week 1: Mozambique

3. Matuba (near Chokwe) is 165km from Mozambique’s capital, Maputo

4. Ditosa Mozambique Ditosa is a 12 year old girl from the village of Matuba. Ditosa’s parents died of HIV/AIDS some years ago. When you support Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion, Ditosa’s community can help lots of children like her.

5. In Matuba, most of the houses are built of mud bricks. The toilets are deep holes in the ground. Very few houses have electricity.

6. Many children have lost one or both of their parents to AIDS.

7. Grandparents are left to look after their grandchildren. Ditosa and her little sister Fique are looked after by their grandmother.

8. Ditosa goes to the Matuba Children’s Centre, where she and other children learn computer and craft skills…

9. …as well as enjoying carpentry and jewellery-making.

10. The children learn how to raise chickens for food and for sale.

11. On the Centre’s land is a water pump. Pipes take clean water to two taps in the village. One of the taps is not very far from Ditosa’s house.

12. The pump is also used to water the Centre’s vegetable garden. The children grow: Maize Peanuts Manioc Sweet potato Tomatoes and Beans

13. They eat and sell the veggies. The money helps pay for: Food Medicines School uniforms and Transport costs to go to school

14. The Centre is a happy place to be. Ditosa’s favourite activity is jewellery-making, but she also appreciates the extra help she gets with schoolwork.

15. “I know the Centre will help them in life. We teach them that, even if they don’t have parents, we are together with them.” Elvira Mabundi, the Centre’s coordinator.

16. Update - Mozambique Floods Unfortunately, in late January, there were severe floods in Matuba. Ditosa, her family and her community had to move to safety 30km away in a camp. The Matuba Children’s Centre survived the floods but sadly the mud brick homes where most people live were destroyed. The floods have affected 150,000 people.

17. Caritas Australia is helping the communities by providing shelter, food and water, sanitation and medical supplies. After the immediate emergency response, Caritas Australia, through Project Compassion, will continue to support the people of Matuba. Together we can help rebuild their community so the people of Matuba can look to the future with hope. Emergency Response

18. Join us in Project Compassion: Let’s work together for justice and a brighter world.

20. Picture credits Erin Johnson Map (Slide 3): Google Maps - ©2012 Google