save the children

Xai-Xai is located on the southern coast of Mozambique, one of the poorest countries in the world. Agriculture is the main source of income in Xai-Xai. During the past 17 years, drought has significantly reduced crop productivity and has greatly impacted the standard of living there. Access to quality education, to health care, and to clean water and living conditions are just some of the major obstacles faced daily by Isabel and the other children of Xai-Xai. Save The Children is working in Isabel's community to help overcome these problems.

Save The Children supports maternal and child health services, including training traditional birth attendants and community healthcare workers about such things as nutrition and immunization. They also undertake construction of houses for health workers and work to establish and improve the condition of health posts.

Save The Children provides micro-loans to women in Xai-Xai who have small businesses. The revenue from these endeavors are used by the women of the community to better feed and clothe their families, as well as to send their children to school. Women clients form solidarity groups and guarantee each others' loans. In addition, Save The Children works to provide extension services to the community's farmers, 80% of whom are women. They distribute seeds and tools, and provide training on new and improved cultivation techniques. This training is also provided to the community schools, both as a means of teaching, as well as making healthy food available to the students.

Project needs are identified by members of the community. Save The Children provides funding and technical assistance in order to establish and sustain these projects until they can be managed by the community. In this way, the people of Xai-Xai are offered a 'hand up', not just a 'hand out'.

Grobanites For Africa will be corresponding regularly with Isabel and with the field staff of Save The Children in Xai-Xai. We'll be sure to keep this website updated with all the details we receive from them. Save The Children has worked for many years, all over the world, to ensure a better life for the world's most underprivileged children. Children like Isabel--bright, caring, wonderful children who, through no fault of their own, must face a struggle each day just to get by. You can help them in that struggle by donating to or sponsoring through Save The Children.