About Centro de Alfabetizacao Casa Madre Rosetta

Statement of motives and objectives

This center provides literacy courses to disadvantaged girls aged 12-20 years. Some of these girls are HIV positive, and their families have had to make the difficult decision not to financially invest in their schooling. Other girls have not been able to attend public schools for various reasons. Therefore, these girls can not read and write. Public schools will no longer accept them due to their age, and there are no government supported literacy services available to them. Without this literacy center, these girls would be deprived of literacy the rest of their lives. Due to cutbacks in funding, currently 150 girls are attending classes. See below for details.

Description of the project and the main stages

The center has a 3 year program that compresses the 5 year public elementary education curriculum. It has been in operation for 8 years. Because this school addresses girls who cannot be matriculated into the normal schooling system, it is not funded by the Mozambican government. However, the diploma these girls receive is recognized by the schooling system and enables them to continue their education in academics or trade. The center employs 5 teachers and one secretary/coordinator.

Extra curricular activities and programs. These include contribution to the income generating fund. Some girls attending the literacy classes are mothers without a husband, abandoned and staying with relatives or friends. Hence they want to employ activities to generate some income. The center supports these girls in the start-up phase by giving what is needed to start a small business. For monitoring/controlling reasons these girls receive items in kind. The process is guided for 6 months and when earning income the girls have to pay back a percentage to the center to allow for others to embark on such venture. This fund is also used as a scholarship fund for girls graduating highest in their class.

Budget for 2008 based on Budget of 2007

5 Teachers	$60.00 a month each	$3,600.00
1 Librarian/Assistant	$40.00 a month	$   480.00
Uniforms	$ 5.00 a piece	$   750.00
Computer/Printer/Supplies	$1,500.00	$1,500.00
Educational Materials	$1,500.00	$1,500.00
Extra Curricular Fund	$ 500.00	$   500.00
Total Budget for 2008		$8,830.00

Budget for 2008 based on Budget of 2007

5 Teachers	$60.00 a month each	$3,600.00
1 Librarian/Assistant	$40.00 a month	$   480.00
Uniforms	$ 5.00 a piece	$   750.00
Computer/Printer/Supplies	$1,500.00	$1,500.00
Educational Materials	$1,500.00	$1,500.00
Extra Curricular Fund	$ 500.00	$   500.00
Total Budget for 2008		$8,830.00

 

Partners

Partners up until now have been the nuns of the Madre Rosetta. They have provided the literacy center with classrooms. They have also administered the project.

The main financial partner has been the partner school in the Netherlands. This is a secondary High School, which has provided the center with a yearly donation of Euro 5,910 for the last several years. The partnership ends in 2008.

Update 9/2008 Celesta von Chamier

Actually, the above is still correct, with the exception of two changes. They no longer have 150 girls, they have less than 100 in 2008. They only employ 3-4 teachers at this time. They have lost students, because they are no longer able to provide girls attending the classes with food packets to take home. According Sister Eulalia, they were receiving funding for food packets from (now I have forgotten from whom, either WFP or similar organization). Without the food packets, many families discontinue allowing their girls to continue.

The budgeting information above is not meant to indicate that the ICM should fund the entire project. The nuns have just opened their books to us, so we can see what their budget is like. The ICM would be able to fund any part of the above budget, including food packets. The sum of that fund is based on the current number of students and would be determined after conferring with the sisters.

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