Jo Knight reports on her recent visit to the Towards Abundant Life for All program and the work of the Anglican Diocese of Nampula in Mozambique.

As I reflect on my time in Northern Mozambique, the pain of incredible poverty and need sits alongside the Christlike love in action demonstrated by our partner, the Anglican Diocese of Nampula. Facts and images occupy my mind, such as almost one in two children in Northern Mozambique being chronically malnourished, alongside faces of people living in situations of heartbreaking poverty and the haunting eyes of hungry children. Our world is indeed hurting, and poverty and injustice abound. The work of the Anglican Diocese of Nampula, under Bishop Manuel Ernesto's leadership, is beautiful, holistic, and volunteer-led. It is a loving expression of the Kingdom of God, where people share knowledge, and that knowledge is powerfully changing lives. 

Through teams of volunteers, local community members band together with great concern and care for each other, passing on life-saving learnings. What stood out to me in the program was how people loved and cared for the well-being of each other and their communities. The independent local evaluator noted this as we spoke on long bus journeys between villages and remote community meetings. Representatives of the Australian Government visited as our program reached the end of its fourth-year cycle, and they provided encouraging insights ahead of the next phase of program design. I was privileged to be invited into people’s homes and hear personal stories. I heard how their lives had improved and how they applied new skills and understanding. Through the program, I saw communities draw on their strengths and resources and the local church working holistically for abundant life in local areas.

In one such community I recognised Laura, a dedicated volunteer and leader of the Murrapula Health Committee. Through the interpreter, we shared a laugh as I mentioned seeing her smiling face in photos back in Australia and reading about her involvement in the program. We felt an instant connection! Laura proudly shared her experiences of volunteering, going door to door with health information, and assisting people accessing health clinics or hospitals when needed. She recounted how pregnant women in the village previously faced barriers when seeking help from hospital staff. However, the Health Committee successfully advocated to senior health officials and established a community feedback system. This ensured that women received treatment without needing to make additional payments to hospital staff, such as chickens. The Committee also monitors the hospital’s medicine stocks to ensure fair distribution. I cannot forget the extreme poverty I witnessed in Mozambique. But the people I met are resilient, energetic, and joyful. I cherish memories of visiting communities who sang and danced, thanking the local church and their friendship with Australians far away.

Alongside great joy and pain, we are invited to journey with our global neighbours and respond in partnership as people of faith. Together, we are working towards God’s renewed world, free of poverty.

‘Towards Abundant Life for All’ receives funding from the Australian Government, through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).