Restoring Childhood Dignity, Hope and Future Through Sponsorship

Lives in central Mozambique are changing as World Vision’s Child Sponsorship programme brings tangible improvements to communities. Through the support of generous sponsors, families are gaining access to clean water, quality education, and safe spaces for children to play. These developments are restoring dignity and sparking hope for a brighter future across the district of Maganja da Costa.

Clara, 11, is one of many children celebrating the opening of a new playground.

“Now we have a safe place to play. Before, there was nothing like this here,” she shared with a smile.

According to Gloria Moio, District Programme Manager at World Vision, the playground is more than just a structure — it is a symbol of possibility.  “It restores children’s right to play and dream. It’s a place where hope and dignity come alive.”

Alongside the playground, World Vision has constructed five boreholes, a sanitation block, and provided 258 double school desks. These interventions help reduce vulnerabilities and improve learning and health conditions—especially for girls, who often face greater barriers to education and wellbeing.

Clean Water: A Lifeline for Families

More than 1,500 people now have access to safe drinking water, no longer relying on unsafe sources such as rivers and ponds. This shift is helping prevent waterborne diseases and improving daily life.

Isabela, a community member, reflected on the change:

“We used to suffer a lot. The water was dirty and far away. Now we have a clean source near our home. We feel safer, and our lives have improved.”

Building a Future Together

Carlota Nhaca, Permanent Secretary of the District Government, praised the initiative’s impact. 

“These interventions not only expand access to clean water but also uphold children’s right to play. The playground benefits around 600 children and the desks enhance learning conditions for the future of our children, who will one day become teachers and leaders.”

She also commended the partnership between World Vision and the district government as a model of effective collaboration for sustainable community development—one that brings lasting change to hundreds of families through improved education, health, and wellbeing.

World Vision sponsorship initiatives such as Gift Notifications and Community Gifts demonstrate how sponsor generosity can be aligned with community priorities to drive meaningful change, even in sectors not directly covered by the district programme’s technical approach.

In Maganja da Costa, for instance, while water, sanitation and hygiene, and education lie outside the core programme areas, they remain critical needs for the community and sponsorship continues to bridge these gaps.