​The Kapasseni Project

Escola Primaria de Kapasseni was built by the villagers in July 1999, with the help of Joseph, Perpetua and four others from Canada who travelled to Kapasseni. The school was funded largely with the proceeds of a benefit concert performed by singer Ann Mortifee and the Gettin' Higher Choir. The first school building was a temporary one-room wooden structure, with 150 children and 30 adults taking classes in shifts, sitting on the dirt floor.

In 2000, a permanent brick schoolhouse was built, and expanded to accommodate growing enrolment to Grade 5. With generous support, desks and chairs were built, a sewing program, a traditional music program, and a breakfast program were started.

The students are taught Portuguese, mathematics, geography, history, arts and physical education. The children often learn through storytelling and songs - a kind of teaching that has long been a part of Kapasseni culture. After school the older students tend a nearby garden plot. There is also a sports program, consisting of coached soccer games in the open space outside the school.

The school started its new year in January 2009 with 453 students. They were taught by eight teachers, including two women. The Kapasseni school is now being run by the Ministry of Education of Mozambique and they have expanded classes to include grade 7.

Students who graduate from Grade 7 have been able to go to a nearby township of Murraca for high school. Scholarships are needed to enable these young people to attend the boarding school. Scholarships are now being raised through the Caia Connection for high school scholarships and the first graduated students from Grade 12 to attend post secondary education.

There has been great success in keeping girls in school and there are 3 young women graduating from college in June 2016. What a celebration that will be! There are also 2 young men graduating in June.

Plans are to expand Kapasseni School to grade 12 as there are so many now that want to continue their education.Grade 8 students started at Kapassei school in January 2016. A building program will begin and funds are being raised through The Caia Connection.