ADPP Children's Town, located in the district of Costa do Sol in the city of Maputo, was the venue chosen by the Continuing Organisation of Mozambique for the celebration of the Day of the African Child, which is celebrated annually on 16 June.
The ceremony, which, due to the observance of the COVID-19 prevention measures, brought together only 32 vulnerable children who are in boarding school at the Cidadela, and members of the Organização Continuadores De Moçambique (OCM), represented at the highest level by its Secretary General, Mr. Danilo Aly Teixeira.
The event was embodied by several moments where the children presented their cultural and recreational manifestations (song, dance and theatre) and, at the same time, the day served to raise awareness and reflection on the genesis of this date which, in addition to having registered the Soweto massacre in Johannesburg, also serves to mark the Mueda Massacre in Cabo Delgado and the day of the creation of the national currency, the Metical.
The event was a reminder to children of their rights and the evils to which they are exposed, namely premature and forced unions, sexual abuse, child exploitation. It was in the context of these evils that afflict some children that the Secretary General of the CMO encouraged the children to know and demand their rights and to make denunciations whenever they are violated.
The occasion was also used for the delivery by the CMO to the citadel of a kit of hygienic material to contain COVID-19, made up of buckets with a tap, hand-pans and rakes.
The relationship between the Organização Continuadores De Moçambique
and the Children's Citadel is not new, there has always been an interest between the two parties to protect vulnerable children. For the commemoration of the National Day of the Continuator, which will take place on 25 October, the establishment of nuclei of Continuators in the Citadel is underway, so that children are active members of the association.