Meninos de Moçambique

Rehabilitating and reintegrating street children with their families.

Mozambique's civil war (1977 – 1992) saw a third of the population internally displaced and the advent of the 'street child' - unaccompanied or orphaned children - in the capital, Maputo, where many flocked to try to survive on their own. The HIV epidemic, which led to the deaths of more than one and a half million in Mozambique since the war, has exacerbated the issue. Often without any formal schooling, these children and young people are forced to turn to stealing or transactional sex - putting them at high risk of HIV infection.

Meninos works to rehabilitate Maputo's street children to reintegrate them with their families and tries to reach vulnerable children before they end up on the streets. Staff build trusting relationships with the children and, when the children are ready, seek to reunite them with their families. Meninos also assists families with nutritional support, school fees and materials as well as providing vocational training for the older children.