Cahora Bassa Project, Mozambique

See the progress you helped make happen in your sponsored community

When the project started, many farmers were struggling to grow enough food to meet their families' needs. Only nine percent of girls were in school and poor hygiene and lack of access to clean water led to disease outbreaks.

Thanks to your support, your sponsored child and other children in the Cahora Bassa community have improved access to clean water, healthcare and education.

Together we've achieved so much

The school enrolment rate for girls has risen to roughly the same as boys

This followed an awareness campaign to end child marriage which reached parents, children, and community and church leaders.

  • 95 percent of teachers are now well-trained in modern teaching methods. This is up from 45 percent in 2003.
  • 12 classrooms were built in three communities and a library was built at a local secondary school. In addition, five mobile libraries were established and supplied with books.
  • 300 children aged under five gained birth certificates through free mobile birth registration brigades. This will help to ensure that these children can access government services including healthcare and education.

14 health committees were formed and trained

They provide health services and nutrition programs in their local areas.

  • Mosquito nets have been widely distributed and families have learned how to protect their children from malaria. In addition, mobile health clinics increased the child immunisation rate to 85 percent in 2015, up from 42 percent in 2003.
  • Eight new boreholes were dug to improve access to clean drinking water.
  • A maternity ward and waiting room for pregnant women were built in the local health centre to encourage more women to give birth in a clinic rather than at home.

Maize production has doubled

This followed training for farmers and improved access to water for irrigation.

  • Five farmers’ groups were trained in improved farming techniques, vegetable production and irrigation. In addition, farmers learned techniques such as plant spacing, fallowing fields and crop rotation to prevent disease.
  • Better storage facilities and seed production techniques improved the quality of farmers’ produce.
  • A shop selling farm tools opened in the community, providing income opportunities as well as access to tools, seeds and machinery.

"We've learnt to become resilient to different shocks, particularly drought … With the support from Australian sponsors, we feel a significant change in our lives."

- Farmer, aged 37