Programs

Mais Escola Para Mim (More School For Me)

The program is designed to address the dropout rate of girls after Primary school. Obstacles to the girls continuing their education include extreme financial hardship, sexual abuse, harassment in schools, and complex discriminatory social and cultural norms, such as child marriage.

To address these obstacles, Mais Escola para Mim integrates scholarship assistance with after-school programs and social worker support. The social workers lead, counsel, and live with the girls in a fully equipped dormitory. They also teach a 2-hour biweekly leadership course that fills gaps in curriculum and teaches girls to overcome the problems they face, while helping them practice leadership skills by organizing their own after-school sports, literature, and culture programs. The program also puts pressure on the school to be accountable and encourages social change through the social workers' strategic partnerships with community organizations and school committees.

You can read the Annual Report prepared by LMF to get more information about the program, funding and finance, program site and staff. The report also captures last year performance of the "Mais Escola Para Mim" program, accomplishments, and the plans and preparations for second year of the program (2009).

Mais Escola para Mim is currently being implemented at the Secondary School of Magude, the only secondary school in Magude, one of the largest districts in Maputo province. The program has provided scholarships for 20 girls to attend secondary school and participate in the program's after-school activities, which include student-led soccer, dance, and singing sessions. Mais Escola para Mim has been very successful so far: in the first year all the students have been above their classes' average, have graduated, and are planning to return after the summer break (November and December).