Committee In Mozambique
The Committee in Mozambique, known in their native language, Portuguese as “Despertai Mocambique”
The role of Despertai Mocambique is to operate the organization locally providing two services:
- Access to micro-finance to those the organisation targets.
- Training to assist business owners to grow and manage their businesses.
The objective is that as the loans are repaid and people become better educated, the opportunity to re-issue the funds and assist in building communities will be achieved.
Despertai Mocambique is managed and operated by six staff (working either full time or part-time). The following is an introduction to three of the staff members.
Pastor Feblisberto Tole
(Manager in Charge)
Tole was born in 1960 in Marromeu, Mozambique. He is father to three daughters and a son and has just recently become a grandfather. Tole is proud to say that all children have been or are being schooled. His first daughter is married and has a child. His second daughter is currently studying to become a lawyer and the other two children are in Grade 12 and 9.
Tole however was educated to the level of 1st grade. His parents were poor, and at the time education was not valued. Both of his parents worked in the fields to produce enough food to feed him and his five siblings. Tole is the youngest and the sole survivor of his family.
Tole says that he lives by grace and faith in God. With no education, the only work known to him is that of ministering, which he learnt from a very young age. He has been a Pastor since 1989.
Tole has said, “I perceive that Awaken Mozambique is a very good project, made up by people who mean what they say and who have taken the pain of the suffering people unto themselves. I believe this can be one step in helping the people of Mozambique to overcome poverty. For we are in a city of 800,000 people, and about only 20% are doing good in life, and the 80% struggle to survive, to feed themselves and there is no employment. Some of the people have no food or they might have one meal a day or sometimes they even go hungry.”
He is happy for the community to have this opportunity for training and education to help the people of Mozambique improve their lives.
Jonas Fortuna Quembo
(Educator and Interpreter)
Jonas was born in 1981 in Beira, Mozambique. He is married to Margarida and is father to their son, Jireldo aged 6 years. Margarida has been unemployed since 2008 and is now studying Grade 11. Jireldo is doing Grade 1.
Jonas’ parents are now living in Nhamatanda approximately 100 km outside of Beira. They work the ground for their sustenance and whenever possible Jonas and his family help with food and other needs.
Jonas’ father has been married twice after his first wife became mentally ill and passed away. With a total of six sisters and two brothers, Jonas’ mother (2nd wife) had five of the children. Sadly, Jonas advises one sister has passed away.
Jonas has had a good education, having completed Grade 10 and an Advanced Diploma in Theology – Major in Teaching. He has been a serving as a Pastor since 2002 and was ordained in 2007.
Jonas says, “I see Awaken Mozambique as a great tool for helping people of all ages to make a significant shift in their lives, from misery, poverty and sickness to a better life in the future depending on how they use the resources that are granted to them as loans. We are committed into training, coaching and mentor in business skills so that they will improve their businesses and earn a good income from it, in order for them look after their families , send the kids to school and able to get medicines whenever someone is sick.”
Rosa Isabel José
(Administrator)
Rosa was born in 1951 in Beira, Mozambique. Rosa is mother of five sons and two daughters (one daughter has passed away) and is grandma to ten children. She is separated.
All of her children are grown up, two of children are working and all of them are in living together with their partners. For those who are not working, Rosa assists them when she is able.
With only one remaining brother, Rosa has lost her parents and three sisters.
Rosa has completed school to Grade 6 and a typewriting course. Prior to working for Awaken Mozambique, she had a business selling food and clothes in Zimbabwe in order to educate her children. Today Rosa is also a committee member of assembly for a Christian party in Beira.
Rosa advises, “Awaken Mozambique is a very good project because it has come to help people who are very down in life, and this will help a lot of people to make better their lives. From us also who are staff here we are feeling that things are improving, we can now afford to buy bread and eat with water although without cheese, but its better done nothing.”
Awaken Mozambique has provided employment and opportunity for each of these people. Their salaries collectively amount to $600 per month (20,000 meticals per month) and is currently funded by the generous donors who donate via regular monthly contributions. The operation of the organization is overseen by the Committee here in Australia, providing advice and assistance when required. The Awaken Mozambique Committee in Australia serves Despertai Mocambique through the provision of training, advice and funding and monitoring the ongoing management.
