IDENTITY RECLAIMED: JOSEFINA MANUEL'S JOURNEY

On the north coast of Mozambique, the village of Pangane, in Macomia district, is known for the tranquillity of its beaches and the simplicity of its people. However, in recent years, the region has been marked by scarce opportunities and constant fear due to attacks by non-state armed groups, which have already forced thousands of families to abandon their homes and lose their livelihoods.

It was in this scenario that Josefina Manuel, 43, a mother of four, lived. Even before the attack that set fire to her house and destroyed all her belongings, Josefina was already facing a silent challenge: the lack of identification documents. Without a birth certificate, she found herself excluded from many aid distributions and deprived of basic rights. The fire caused by the attack not only destroyed material objects but also took away the little Josefina had to prove her existence to the State. Still, she did not give up.

Today, with a smile of relief and pride, she shares the following:
“I am happy because I managed to register myself and my four children. Now I have my birth certificate and theirs. I will ensure that my children have citizenship and not just life-saving food. Having a document is the first sign of belonging and being a citizen.”

The change in Josefina's life became a reality thanks to the documentation provision campaign for beneficiaries of Save the Children's Child Protection component, within the scope of the ECHO-CP project, funded by the European Union - ECHO.
Today, Josefina not only carries documents in her pocket but also the certainty that she and her children have identity, rights, and a safer future.