About

Organismo Moçambicano Para o Desenvolvimento Sócio-económico Integrado – KULIMA is a Mozambican NGO, which works since 1984 in the scope of Integrated Socio-Economic Development. Is particularly engaged in rural areas or in grassroots communities in Mozambique. The word “Kulima” is common in the Bantu language and means “dig” or “cultivate the land”. The name has a historical relation as, KULIMA for ages, has been working with rural communities, whose income comes from the land. KULIMA was inspired by and founded in partnership with a French NGO (Bioforce) during the civil war period. Its aim was to support refugees by offering proper living conditions and resettle them when necessary.

The main objective of KULIMA still is to implement activities on behalf of less privileged communities – either rural or semi rural, in order to improve their level of socio-economic development. Their activities aim to increase the productivity in Agriculture and support the commercialization of the products, promote rural microfinance models, ensure the sustainable use of water, improve environmental sanitation, contribute to the health and education for everybody. They train technicians for the different areas of action, strengthen the support to women, the elderlyage, youth and children. They promote a culture of peace, with actions based on Human Rights and Good Governance.

KULIMA’s activities focus mainly in two areas: rural development and social responsibility. These include e.g. civic education, promotion of small industries,  environmental regeneration (reforestation), workmanship, emergency programmes, Human Rights, gender and women’s empowerment, water supply and basic health (programs of fight against the Malaria, cholera, Tuberculosis and HIV and AIDS).

Location

The main office of the project is located in a very residential area of Maputo City. It is an area that offers many facilities and is very safe and easy to access from any point of Maputo. KULIMA has several regional and local offices and implements projects across the country.

Volunteer Tasks

The role of the volunteers among others will be but, not limited only to the following:

• Support the technical team in undertaking their activities;
• Provide psychosocial support to orphans and vulnerable children;
• Participate in meetings and workshops with the communities;
• Support in activity planning;
• Contribute to the dissemination of innovative activities in the communities

Volunteer Requirements

• Willingness to work with people who are HIV-positive;
• Being flexible and adaptable to a new culture and different working habits;
• Being able to communicate verbally in Portuguese greatly increases the
  number of tasks that the volunteer would be able to undertake. If the volunteer does not speak Portuguese when they start working on the project they will have limited possibilities until their Portuguese improves;
• Being sensitive to the life conditions and difficulties (vulnerability) of the target group;
• Be creative and able to initiate new activities (one-off and ongoing);
• Being patient and able to deal with frustrations and difficult situations;
• Have experience in a particular field (e.g. rural development, HIV/AIDS, medicine, education, community work, administration, organisational development, training, computers, website development, vocational skills such as agriculture, carpentry, sewing etc, psychology or counselling, work with NGOs, awareness-raising work, fundraising) gives the volunteer the chance to undertake activities in related areas of the work of the associations.

Accommodation

Mozambican Host Family