Welcome to our newsletter with updates the past month from projects covering education, health, agriculture & environment, and integrated community development. 

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the third phase of the collaborative project, "Improving the Quality of Education in Rural Areas of Angola." This partnership brings together the Ministry of Education of Angola, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and ADPP Angola with the goal of empowering teachers and ensuring access to quality education for vulnerable populations in 21 municipalities across the provinces of Cuanza Norte, Malanje, and Uíge. Teachers gain skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality education in rural communities, and provide an engaging and inclusive learning environment for pupils. Children facing barriers to attending school will benefit. Major changes are on the way for rural communities.

The STEM project focuses on enhancing the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education in schools. Comprehensive training programs and resources designed for primary and lower secondary schools have had a profound impact on teachers and pupils alike. Teachers have a greater understanding of the subjects, and they give clear explanations backed up by practical examples and applications. Pupils develop teamwork, passion and curiosity, see themselves following technical and engineering careers. Here at Kumangala Moçâmedes School, Ana is teaching her Grade 5 pupils mathematics. Group work combined with resolving tasks at the board is typical of STEM methods. The pupils are clearly enjoying the session and participate with enthusiasm, helping each other in the process.  Team work helps the pupils grow, resolve difficult problems better, communicate effectively, be more creative, and work well with others in the future. Achieving common goals through collaboration is crucial in many aspects of life.

2 May is an important date in the ADPP calendar, as it marks the anniversary of this innovative form of educating lower secondary pupils. It is a day of celebration at all eight ADPP Polytechnic Schools, where we prioritize equipping our students with the skills needed to make a positive difference in their communities and contribute to the overall development of the country.  Over three years, the students follow a course of academic and practical training. They gain knowledge and expertise in various professions, such as water assistant or food producer, allowing them to pursue careers that directly address community needs, and they do this through investigation, team work, hands on experience, and community actions. The Polytechnics and their invited guests celebrated the day with speeches, cakes and dancing.

Community Agents have conducted crucial health screenings for children under 5 years of age in the Pangala and Kipondo neighbourhoods in Soyo, Zaire Province, testing for malnutrition. The screening process aims at early detection and intervention, and upper arm measurements are a simple way of identifying potential cases of malnutrition, allowing for prompt medical attention and treatment. Monitoring the growth and development of the young children provides essential insights into their overall health status, and is just as important as fighting the endemic diseases of malaria, TB and HIV.

We are continuing our Global Vax project, which supports the national Covid-19 vaccination campaign. The Health Agents continue to raise awareness, mobilizing members of the community, and convincing even the most reluctant of people that Covid-19 vaccination saves lives or serious illness. As here in Cuando Cubango where the Health Agents are carrying out mobilization and awareness campaigns and providing vaccination for priority users such as the elderly, women, and mothers of young children in rural communities.

In May a baseline survey has been underway in the villages of Vanda, Cafulo, and Bula in Calai municipality in Cuando Cubango. Project staff are gathering information from community members, traditional leaders, and government representatives in preparation for the start of the ADSWAC project to strengthen community resilience in the face of climate change. The quantitative and qualitative data will be used throughout the 5 year project to measure progress and impact.

Environmentally friendly farming is at the heart of our agricultural projects. Members of Farmer Field Schools learn low-cost effective techniques for raising production while minimizing damage to the soil, to local fauna, or to the environment in general. At Ntiaty Farmer Field School in Chiange, Gambos Municipality, project technicians demonstrated how to transplant tomato plants and use the hole system that helps reduce water loss. 18 members took part. Practical lessons accompanied by explanations of the theory behind the practice make all the difference at Farmer Field Schools.

The Integrated Community Development project in Huíla and Namibe is progressing and is achieving daily milestones. Throughout the month of May, numerous accomplishments were made: birth certificates were issued, latrines were constructed, solar kits were delivered to families, major strides were taken in environmentally friendly farming practices, schools harvested produce from their vegetable gardens, farmers learned techniques for conserving maize and bean seeds, water tanks were completed, dams were restored, Water & Sanitation Groups assumed control over water systems, firewood saving stoves and IKO stoves were produced, income was generated through sewing and the sale of castor oil soap, and school pupils actively contributed to maintaining a clean environment.

Economic diversity increases the sustainability of rural communities. It removes the need to seek employment in larger towns and cities, and ensures the local availability of numerous goods and services. Participants in the sewing and dressmaking course in Bibala, Namibe Province, have already earned more than 60,000 kwanzas from the sale of clothes.  In Kapangombe-Munhino, Project Leader Ropafadzo Ngwenya met participants from the Entrepreneurship course to hear what they had been learning, and their plans for the future. With the first small shops about to open, they were eager to talk about their plans.

A rehabilitated water point in the community of Tcholofeu in Chitado is ready for official delivery to the Municipal Administration. The project focuses on creating and improving water points to enhance access to clean water. It also aims to build the capacity of local communities in managing water resources effectively. Moreover, the project strives to foster positive changes in attitudes and behaviors concerning water utilization and sanitation practices. To ensure the project's long-term sustainability, training is provided to Water and Sanitation Groups. The work is of great importance since the region lack safe drinking water and water for irrigation as well as for livestock. The three elements are contributing to improvements in food security, nutrition and health in general.

Thank you to all the partners who support our activities.

VISION
ADPP seeks to support people in developing the vision and capacity to contribute to development, for themselves, their communities, and the nation.

MISSION

• To promote solidarity between people
• To promote the economic and social development of Angola
• To promote a better life for the underprivileged and those most in need

ADPP (Ajuda de Desenvolivmento de Povo para Povo) stands for Development Aid from People to People. ADPP Angola works in the fields of education, health, agriculture and environment, and integrated community development.