How a Mozambique supermarket began with $3

The terrible civil war in Mozambique ended less than a generation ago, at the end of 1992. Just three years later, Patricia Mabande and Luis received a loan of $3 from the Lutheran team. Luis shares what happened next …

“Before we received the loan from the Lutheran project, life was very difficult for us. We didn’t even have a bicycle.

With the first loan we started off selling small things like soap and salt, things like that. Because we received some trainings in business management, and could take out more loans, we were able to grow the business.

Now we have two lorries, cattle, a house and four shops. We’re planning to open another shop soon, and then we want to open a supermarket.

We feel very positive about the future and thank the Australians for helping us. This help you gave to us, please continue this for more people.”

Action Idea: Choose a Fish Pond to help families invest in their futures. $215.

Country: Mozambique

Where: Tete Province – Macanga & Maravia Districts

What: Post Graduation and Accompaniment Program

Who: Beneficiaries: 16,620 Direct Beneficiaries – 3,324 Households ; 13,200 Indirect Beneficiaries – 2,640 Households; 28 Community Development Committees; 200 Community leaders

Our Contribution: $40,000 in 2011 (This amount is reducing as the people become more self sufficient.)

You have been assisting Mozambicans as far back as the 1960s when refugees sought refuge in Malawi and Zambia. Since that time, programs have been developed which have seen a progression from immediate relief assistance to sustainable, empowering programs that will enable the people to be set free from poverty.

Because this program focuses on Post Graduation (villages have already reached a stage where they are ready to begin to ‘go-it-alone’ with limited accompaniment) its emphasis is on capacity building, on increasing community confidence to advocate to local authorities for basic services and on an increased application of each individuals God-given potential for their family’s and community’s benefit.

Expected Results

1. Increased capacity of communities to take initiatives and effectively identify, organize, plan, implement and monitor own initiatives.
2. Increased capacity of communities to mobilize local resources as well as raise funds internally and externally.
3. Increased self awareness and a self confidence manifested through new successful initiatives
4. Better management of resources by communities.
5. Better governance of community support structures.
6. Transformation of Community Development Committees into fully operational Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).
7. Enhanced Household Food Security and strengthened household economy.
8. Increased wealth in the community and reduction of poverty.
9. Improved conditions of health in the community (initiatives taken in favor of most vulnerable including women, children, the elderly, those with disabilities and HIV affected people).

The ultimate goal of the graduation process for the Mozambicans is sustainability, ownership and control of their own lives.