About Ilha de Moçambique
The Island of Mozambique (3km long / 500 m width) lies off Northern Mozambique, between the Mozambique Channel and Mossuril Bay, and is part of Nampula Province. The name of the island is derived from Ali Musa Mbiki, sultan of the island in the times of Vasco da Gama. This name was subsequently taken to the mainland country which is modern-day Mozambique, and the island was renamed Ilha de Moçambique (Island of Mozambique).
Vasco de Gama landed on the island in 1498 and subsequently claimed it for Portugal. The Portuguese established a port and naval base in 1507 and built fortifications and a town over the course of three centuries. Today the island is divided into two sections, the Stone Town and Macuti Town. Three kilometers long and five hundred meters wide, the island is inhabited by approximately fourteen thousand people and is linked to the mainland by a three kilometers long bridge.
It was the capital of Portuguese East Africa up until 1898, when the Portuguese decided for economic reasons to move their administrative capital further South to Lourenço Marques, today Maputo. This slowly diminished the importance of the island and triggered its decline. Rich in history and surrounded by nearby sandy beaches, today the island is slowly rising up from it's forgotten past and increasingly becoming an off-the-beaten tract destination for intrepid and curious visitors.
UNESCO HERITAGE
The Island of Mozambique was designated a World Heritage site in 1991. Due to the particular architecture of the island which shows diverse Arab, Indian, and Portuguese influences while maintaining an unusual visual homogeneity, UNESCO launched an international campaign to conserve and restore the island’s architectural heritage in 1997.
The urban fabric and fortifications of Mozambique Island are exceptional examples of architecture and building techniques resulting from cultural diversity, and the interaction of people of Bantu, Swahili, Arab, Persian, Indian and European origin. The incredible architectural unity of the island derives from the uninterrupted use of the same building techniques with the same materials and the same decorative principles. The island’s patrimony also includes its oldest extant fortress St. Sebastian and the Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Baluarte, now considered the oldest European building in the Southern Hemisphere.
Dates
1498
In 1498 Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope and stopped in Mozambique en route to becoming the first European to visit India by sea. He landed on the island on March 2nd 1498 and stayed until March 29.
1507
First seat of the Portuguese colonial government that lasted from 1507 to 1898, It was the capital of Portuguese East Africa up until 1898.
1522
Building of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Baluarte in 1522, now considered the oldest European building in the Southern Hemisphere.
1610
Construction of the Palace and Chapel of São Paulo, as a Jesuit College and subsequently used as the Governor's Residence, now a museum.
1960
A 3 km long bridge was built in the 1960s to join the island to the mainland.
1975
In macuti town an enormous population influx occurred during the 16 years war (1976-1992)
1991
The entire island was inscribed a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991 for its unique architecture — a melding of Arab, Indian, and Portuguese influences — which evolved over its long history as a trading hub.
Help us to end Period Poverty by providing menstrual cups as a solution to young ladies between 12 and 23 years old living on the Island of Mozambique and surroundings.
3000 menstrual cups already distributed
The fourth program is in preparation, you can make a difference!
THE PROJECT
Today, young ladies on the Island of Mozambique as well as in the majority of poor countries in the world, do not have access to menstrual sanitary pads/tampons and use instead rags, pieces of mattress or leaves which can harm their health.
They also face leakages and unpleasant odors causing them to miss school, for the younger ones. This is detrimental to their education and thus reduces their chances of a better future.
Menstrual cups will help the young ladies as it is economical, clean, hygienic, safe, comfortable, reusable and lasts 10 years.
We started by supporting 300 young ladies in 2020, the most deprived first, by giving them the cup, the training and also monitoring them for 3 months.
The results of the pilot project were incredibly encouraging:
92.5% of the young ladies who participated to the program accepted the cup. It is helping to reduce school absence by 93%.
So far, 3000 cups have been distributed over the past 4 years.
Considering the success, we are now working on the fourth phase expected to take place during the year 2025.
ALIX HAGE - PHILIPPART DE FOY
HOW DID IT ALL START?
While travelling in different countries in Africa (Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda) meeting local people in remote villages, schools and markets over the last 2 years, Alix Hage - Philippart de Foy, the initiator of the project, noticed the obvious level of poverty in which people were living. When looking at the women in particular, the following question came to her mind: how do they manage to go to school, work, or keep going during their periods?
After discussing with various people and reading on the subject on-line, reality came as a shock to her.
As a woman Alix realises the inconvenience periods can cause, even with the availability of proper menstrual products, so she thought something had to be done for these women. During her research on the topic, she found that several studies prove that menstrual cups are one of the best solutions for them and are well accepted (more details here). The cups are made of medical silicone and can be used for 10 years. The added value of the cups compared to other reusable products, such as washable sanitary pads and underwear, is that a minimal amount of water is needed to clean them and that they are long lasting.
The first pilot project took place on the Island of Mozambique. Indeed, on the island there are barely no menstrual products available and no organisation has previously distributed cups there. The cup is the perfect option for the young ladies as there isn't much sweet water available on the island. The population in the province of the island of Mozambique is composed of 53% of woman, of which 30% are between 15 and 30 years old (+/- 10,300).
HOW DOES A
PROGRAM WORK?
The programs are led by COULDYOU?, which is an organization handling menstrual health concerns and organizes programs to distribute cups in Mozambique. COULDYOU? also manufactures the cups. They work with local non-profit organizations to plan the project, give the training, provide support during the trial period and submit a report with the results of the program 3 to 4 months later.
Community meetings to bring onboard the important people (leaders, nurses, fathers, teachers...) from the area are organized prior to inform them of the program. Municipality also needs to approve the program before its implementation.
The young ladies were invited to the “Wixutta Knowledge Centre” or to the nearby school to attend the training in small groups (approx. 30) and receive the cups. There are also events set up to open and close the program.
The following sessions took place so far:
- pilot project in November 2020 on the island of Mozambique (300 cups distributed)
- 2nd outreach took place in summer 2022 in Nampula province (1500 cups distributed)
- 3rd outreach took place in Spring 2024 in Nampula province (1200cups distributed)
Considering the great results, we are now working on the 4th phase to take place in 2025, aiming to support between 1000 and 1500 young ladies, depending on the fund raising.
THE TEAM
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ALIX HAGE - PHILIPPART DE FOY who felt something had to be done to help these women live their period with dignity.
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COULDYOU? with Christine Garde for the organization of the program, the trainers, connection with local NGOs and supplier of the cups.
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MENSTRUAL CUP COALITION with Janie Hampton for guidance on the project and for allowing the use of the information from their website.
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WIXUTTA KNOWLEDGE CENTER with Moira Forjaz for providing local support and welcoming the women at her centre.
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TIVIKELI ASSOCIATION and AMAMASV local NGOs who were planning and leading the first project on the island.
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THIRTY3 with Loula Dierckx de Casterlé for her overall support in creating a website and assisting in all related communications.
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CHARLOTTE DUPUIS who is taking care of collecting the funds
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All friends and family who encouraged us to believe and pursue this project.
ILHA DE MOCAMBIQUE
Designated a World Heritage site in 1991, the Island of Mozambique (3km long / 500 m width) lies off Northern Mozambique, between the Mozambique Channel and Mossuril Bay, and is part of Nampula Province. The name of the island is derived from Ali Musa Mbiki, sultan of the island in the times of Vasco da Gama. This name was subsequently taken to the mainland country which is modern-day Mozambique, and the island was renamed Ilha de Moçambique (Island of Mozambique).
Vasco de Gama landed on the island in 1498 and subsequently claimed it for Portugal. The Portuguese established a port and naval base in 1507 and built fortifications and a town over the course of three centuries. Today the island is divided into two sections, the Stone Town and Macuti Town. Three kilometers long and five hundred meters wide, the island is inhabited by approximately fourteen thousand people and is linked to the mainland by a three kilometers long bridge.
It was the capital of Portuguese East Africa up until 1898, when the Portuguese decided for economic reasons to move their administrative capital further South to Lourenço Marques, today Maputo. This slowly diminished the importance of the island and triggered its decline. Rich in history and surrounded by nearby sandy beaches, today the island is slowly rising up from it's forgotten past and increasingly becoming an off-the-beaten tract destination for intrepid and curious visitors.
