Over 25 years as Humanitarian Actor - A Journey of Commitment to Child’s Well-Being

The office was almost submerged. The waters of the Limpopo River continued to rise, and in that moment, the priority was no longer coordinating activities but saving lives. Before assisting the communities, Amílcar Checo had to evacuate his own team. They took refuge on the bridge, the highest point in the area.

“We had to be rescued to be able to help others,” he recalls.

More than just an emergency, that moment symbolised over 25 years of a life dedicated to the well-being of children.

A Humble Beginning that Became a Mission

Some say we choose our dreams. Other times, however, it is our dreams that choose us, like a seed sown in fertile soil, destined to grow and bear fruit. These are dreams that God plants within us, not merely for our own fulfilment, but for the impact our lives can have on others.

Everything gains meaning when we discover our purpose; it is as if we finally complete the pieces of a puzzle. For Amílcar Checo, that purpose was revealed at World Vision.

When he joined the organisation in 1999, Amílcar was not seeking a life mission. He was simply in need of a job. He was appointed as an assistant in an Agriculture and Food Security programmein Gaza Province, southern Mozambique.

Working in the field, however, stirred profound memories of his own childhood. Witnessing children directly benefiting from the interventions was a moving experience. What began as need became passion.

“It was incredible to realise that my work could directly impact the life of a child, who previously had no dreams or prospects,” he recounts.

When Purpose Demands Sacrifice

The Bible teaches: “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). For Amílcar, remembering God meant dedicating his energy, time, and talents to serving children, even when it required personal sacrifices.

In 2010, he accepted the challenge of working in Tete Province as Deputy Programme Manager, over 1,500 kilometres from his hometown, where his wife and children remained. It was a new reality, with a different language and culture. Yet he found a universal language: love for children.

He worked in Domué, in the district of Angónia, and later assumed the role of a Manager. It was there that he encountered contexts completely different from those he knew, and where, according to him, he consolidated his leadership skills.

Even far from his family, his strength came from the conviction that all children, regardless of background, deserve equal opportunities and a different story.

Leading in Times of Crisis

With greater experience and a strengthened humanitarian spirit, five years later, Amílcar returned to Gaza Province to take on one of the highest points of his career: District Manager, leading a team of over 30 people in the districts of Guijá and Mabalane.

It was a demanding period, marked by successive crises. Cyclical floods severely affected communities, forcing the evacuation of entire populations. On one occasion, the World Vision office itself was nearly submerged.

“The number of people needing immediate assistance increased in accommodation centres, where children, the elderly, and women became increasingly vulnerable,” he recalls. 

With support from the Humanitarian, Emergency Affairs team, the government, and humanitarian partners, it was possible to provide assistance until the waters receded and communities returned to their homes.

Soon after, the Covid-19 pandemic brought a new challenge. Half the team was affected, all far from their families, and had to remain in quarantine.

“Despair took hold, but thanks to leadership support and a pre-prepared hibernation plan, we were able to continue operations safely,” he explains. 

Fortunately, there were no human losses, neither among staff nor the children registered in the Sponsorship programme.

The Child Who Symbolises Impact 

Among the many stories that marked his career, one remains vivid in his memory: Francisco, a severely malnourished child, abandoned by his father and cared for by a mother suffering from elephantiasis, with great difficulty in mobility.

Identified by the team, the child case inspired a documentary produced with the support of a Canadian partner, which helped raise funds for further activities within the programme. Francisco was admitted to hospital, recovered nutritionally, returned to school, and continued to receive support as a sponsored child.

Years later, Amílcar learned that Francisco had grown up, moved to Maputo, and become a father.

For those who had known that fragile child, his survival was more than a victory, it was proof that an intervention carried out with humanity can change lives.

A Purpose That Endures

Along the way, there were also moments of sorrow. While working in Tete, Amílcar lost his mother. The urge to give up was strong. The support of colleagues, leadership, and family, combined with faith, was crucial in keeping him going.

Today, looking at the impact of his work on the lives of children and families, he feels encouraged and renewed.

“Every outcome achieved brings a unique sense of fulfilment and reinforces the commitment to the sustainable well-being of children,” he affirms.

From the communities, he has learned that even in scarcity, there is always knowledge and wisdom to value. 

“We can do nothing for them without them.”

To young people aspiring to a humanitarian career, he leaves a clear message:

“Humanitarian work requires sacrifice, courage, and heart. Yet the transformation of beneficiaries’ lives is the greatest reward.”

After more than 25 years of service, he sums up his career in a simple yet powerful sentence:

“My purpose is the well-being of children.”

Inspired by Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters”, Amílcar Checo continues to demonstrate that when work is done with purpose, its impact transcends generations.