Project "Educators in Motion" - 2nd year Review - Preparation of the 3rd phase

On the 19th and 20th of January, the project team in Mozambique traveled to the 5 communities in the District of Chibuto to take stock of the 2nd year of the project's effectiveness and plan the start of the “Escolinhas” activities in 2021.

Despite the constraints imposed, especially by the pandemic in Mozambique and worldwide, the evaluation of the project and the activities implemented between November 2019 and October 2020 was considered positive, with the following aspects being highlighted:

• Publication of the Study “Psychomotor Development of Mozambican Preschool Children, in a Rural Context, with a Focus on Chibuto”, referenced in an article in the journal “Cadernos de Estudos Africanos”, with international projection;
• Launching of the first of four bilingual books – “O Grão de Milho Mágico”/”Andzoho ya Masalamusu” (“The Magic Corn Grain”) in Mozambique, at the Teachers' Meeting, in March 2020, and offering a copy to each School that integrates the School Library Network of the Chibuto District;
• Development of new pedagogical-didactic materials, which have already reached a total of about 400, including books made in capulana, educational resources made of wood such as musical instruments, games, …;
• Adaptation of the Bibliotchovas mobile libraries (concept and model created by AIDGLOBAL, in 2010) to the Itinerant Education Model for Early Childhood;
• Construction of latrines to support the Escolinhas, one per community;
• Manufacture of masks and their distribution to project communities and high schools;
• Donation of soap to high schools in the communities where the project is being implemented;
• Pedagogical Workshops – 16 workshops;
• Attribution of extraordinary pecuniary support to Educators in Movement;
• Creation of documentation to support the functioning of the Escolinhas – presentation of the secretariat's file, which includes forms: Children's Attendance Record Sheet, Scale of Activities, Mention of the Contributions of the Guardians, Monthly Output Balance and Presentation of the Schools' Maps.

With regard to the difficulties and setbacks that arose during the execution of the project, it is worth mentioning the insufficient participation of the members of the Community Management Council, the impossibility not only of opening the Escolinhas due to the pandemic situation but also of implementing Parental Education activities and, also, the withdrawal of 2 Educators from the Community of Chaimite.

However, these setbacks did not minimize the expectations of continuity of the project, waiting for better days. Thus, it was in this climate of trust that the 3rd year of the project (EiM) was prepared, remembering that, with it, it is intended that itinerant childhood education services (ICE) are managed and integrated in a sustainable manner, and that the communities themselves have the necessary skills for the integral development of children of pre-school age, in a social educational context, with daily activities carried out in the open air, based on learning through Nature.

It was considered imperative to update the children's lists for the 2021 school year, by community, and provide them with a daily snack. The community management councils, guided by AIDGLOBAL, propose to streamline the construction of TIP TAP, so that hands are washed without touching the support, preventing the spread of dirt and bacteria.

However, the opening of the Escolinhas depends on authorization, on a date to be defined by the Mozambican Government, in the context of COVID 19, and the conditions also depend on the inspection carried out by the health delegate in each community. However, it will be necessary to build a fence around the grounds of the Escolinhas and equip each one with a Kit/Health Equipment, containing a thermometer, bleach, sisal bags to put it on, soap and masks for the Educators.

“Educators in Motion – An Itinerant Education for Early Childhood” (EeM) is a project that creates links between the Primary School and the Itinerant Childhood Education services of 5 rural communities in the District of Chibuto, Gaza Province. It is financed by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, co-financed by Camões – Institute for Cooperation and Language I.P.  and implemented by a consortium constitut by AIDGLOBAL – Project Manager; Chibuto Vocational and Residential Center (CVRC) – partner in defining social and educational strategies and hosting various initiatives; Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (IPL) – scientific-pedagogical coordinator; Center for International Studies of the University Institute of Lisbon (CEI-IUL) – coordinator of the anthropological component; District Service for Youth, Education and Technology of Chibuto (SDJET) and District Service for Health, Women and Social Action (SDSMAS) – entities that guarantee the articulation of the project with public policies.