The promotion of reading and Mozambican languages was at the centre of the presentation of the bilingual children’s book “Os Sapatos Sonhadores” / “Svifambu Svavalorhi”, an initiative by AIDGLOBAL that brought together authors, educators, and institutional representatives in Maputo.
The launch took place on Tuesday, April 14, at the Portuguese Cultural Centre in Maputo, as part of the round table “Writing, Translating and Illustrating for Children”, and highlighted the role of bilingual literature as a tool for inclusion and early childhood learning.
During the event, the Portuguese ambassador to Mozambique, Jorge Monteiro, emphasized the importance of education for development in a country where around 60% of the population is under 30 years old. “Education is a true engine of development and allows every citizen to have access to equal opportunities to fulfil their life aspirations. That is why Portugal considers it one of the priority pillars of cooperation with Mozambique, which will continue to be strengthened in the next strategic programme 2027–203,” he said.
The president of the Portuguese Language Bibliographic Fund, Nataniel Ngomane, also defended the need to improve access to books, stating that “the country will only develop when the majority of the population has access to the knowledge contained in books.”
The presented work is part of the Livros para Começar (Books to Begin With) collection, an AIDGLOBAL initiative that promotes children’s literature in national languages and has already distributed several titles free of charge in Mozambique.
According to AIDGLOBAL’s founder and president, Susana Damasceno, “the project arises from the need to promote quality education, valuing local languages and facilitating children’s learning based on their own reality.” She also noted that “Os Sapatos Sonhadores” “is the sixth title in the collection, but the seventh bilingual children’s book produced by AIDGLOBAL and distributed free of charge in Mozambique.” The work began in 2018 and will run until July 2026, with support from Camões and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
The book, written by Vandy Cambula, illustrated by Cerina do Rosário, and translated by Mabjeca Tingana, was presented to the public alongside an exhibition dedicated to the creative process of the collection.
Photo credits: Embassy of Portugal in Mozambique
