With its tropical climate, exquisite beaches, and Portuguese influence, Mozambique evokes scenes of idyllic holiday destinations. But between its coastal plains and rising plateaus, Mozambique shelters another story. One that proofs to be more complex.

Since the fifth century AD, Bantu speaking communities have made South-West Africa their home. After centuries, in 1505 specifically, Portugal colonised what is today called Mozambique. A tragic era in human history followed. Little attention was paid to tribal integration and the development of native communities – causing a ten year thread of warfare towards independence in 1975. Shortly after this, opposition parties plagued the country with yet another long and violent civil war: Civilians were executed; one million perished; the country was in chaos.

Following mass human rights violations, the war ended in 1992, and 1,5 million Mozambican refugees returned to their homeland. The largest repatriation in sub-Saharan Africa. Today, Mozambique is rated one of the poorest and most underdeveloped countries in the world. More babies die at birth in Mozambique than any other country in the world, while access to education is difficult.

But between the fractures of its tormented plains, a new story is emerging. Mozambique’s sixteen ethnic groups have vigour. Remnants of the their traumatic past are real, yet they share a new liveliness: friendly, welcoming and appreciative towards sincere interest.

Associação Amor Moçambique (ASAM) is a registered non-profit organization located in the Manica province of Mozambique. Here, founding members Francois and Alta Rauch collaborate with their dedicated team in addressing the everyday challenges facing Mozambicans. Operating from the 2350 acre Vanduzi farm, the ASAM team focuses on an array of programmes. This ranges from education, child sponsorship, leadership training, orphans, widows, women, agriculture, aquaculture, aviation, health care to church planting.

How do they do this? Through leadership training, community care, skills development training and providing an effective infrastructure for the programmes. These programmes are actively managed on the Vanduzi farm, but also within the surrounding communities. Besides this, ASAM is now extending its development initiatives to the Sofala, Tete, and Zambezi provinces.

Together, the team’s vision is to love God and love the people of Mozambique so they can be empowered spiritually, physically, and economically to help reach and teach their own people. In support of ASAM’s activities, Francois and Alta have established the South African non-profit organisation, Love Mozambique, of which Stellenbosch Gemeente is a significant sponsor.