The struggle to find a job in Mozambique’s growing capital

With half of the national population expected to be living in cities by 2015, and rates of poverty in cities currently standing at 62%, prospects for those living in Mozambique’s towns and cities, are not promising.

To combat this ever-increasing problem of urban poverty, CARE International is helping to provide the poor residents of cities with the skills and support they need to get jobs.

CARE is currently running a project in Maputo City, which began in 1999, the year of Mozambique’s first local elections. 

Project Kuyakana, meaning ‘to build together’ in the local Tsongan language, has helped those living in the most degenerated areas of the city to rebuild houses and community buildings, many of which were destroyed during the devastating drought in 2000.

Alongside the rebuilding, CARE has established a thriving community centre.  The Optar centre, meaning ‘choice’ in Portuguese is where local people can learn the skills they need in order to find employment.   The centre serves a population of 75,000 people from three bairros (sub-districts) of the city-centre.  Most importantly, people are given the choice which skills and training they want to develop, which helps to promote confidence and empowers them to actively seek employment.  

The Optar centre also acts as an information and advice centre for local residents, offering advice about community engagement, employment opportunities and job-seeking skills.

Community based recreational activities are managed and run in the centre too, which gives local residents young and old alike the chance to get involved in community events, meet new people and form relationships.

Mozambique is a country that has experienced rapid urbanization over the past 25 years, fuelled by a 16 year long civil war and a people’s desperate desire for stable, paid employment. 

By rebuilding community buildings, promoting community involvement and providing people with the skills needed to compete for jobs; CARE International is working towards reducing urban poverty for those individuals living in Mozambique’s towns and cities.