Professional Documents
Culture Documents
MOZAMBIQUE
A P E A C E C O R P S P U B L I C ATI O N
FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS
May 2009
A WELCOME LETTER
Dear Peace Corps/Mozambique Invitee,
Peace Corps/Mozambique
Country Director
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Map of Mozambique
A Welcome Letter
Packing List 87
Pre-departure Checklist 95
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The secondary school academic year begins in February and
has three trimesters: early February to early April, late April
to mid-July, and late July to mid-October, when final exams
begin. National exams run from November to early December.
Agricultural and technical schools, to which some Volunteers
are assigned, follow an August to June calendar.
10 PEACE CORPS
NOTES
14 PEACE CORPS
result of the war and drought returned to Mozambique as part
of the largest repatriation witnessed in sub-Saharan Africa.
At the same time, an additional 4 million people who were
internally displaced returned to their areas of origin.
Government
Economy
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Foreign assistance programs supply the foreign exchange
required to pay for imports of goods and services.
The peace accords signed in October 1992 improved
Mozambiques prospects, however. Restoration of electrical
transmission lines to South Africa and completion of a
new transmission line to Zimbabwe (permitting the giant
Cahora Bassa hydropower plant to export large amounts
of electricity), construction of a natural gas pipeline to
South Africa, increased tourism with South Africa, and a
reform of transportation services have greatly increased
foreign exchange receipts. A major four-lane highway
links the port of Maputo with Witbank, South Africa. In
the past few years, more than 500 state enterprises have
been privatized, including the countrys largest commercial
bank and a number of sizable manufacturing firms. Other
pending reform measures are the privatization of customs
operations, the reform of tax collection, and the facilitation
of private enterprise in the transportation, energy, and
telecommunications sectors.
Environment
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try, was cut in several places. Many rural schools and health
posts were seriously damaged and thousands of Mozambicans
lost their homes and farms. In 2001, floods also ravaged the
Zambezi River basin in the northern provinces. Despite all
these natural and manmade setbacks to continued develop-
ment, the government and people of Mozambique remain
incredibly determined to rebuild their lives and country.
www.countrywatch.com
On this site, you can learn anything from what time it is in the
Maputo to how to convert from the dollar to the Mozambique
currency. Just click on Mozambique and go from there.
www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations
Visit this site for general travel advice about almost any
country in the world.
www.psr.keele.ac.uk/official.htm
This site includes links to all the official sites for
governments worldwide.
www.geography.about.com/library/maps/blindex.htm
This online world atlas includes maps and geographical
information, and each country page contains links to
other sites, such as the Library of Congress, that contain
comprehensive historical, social, and political background.
www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/infonation/info.asp
This United Nations site allows you to search for statistical
information for member states of the U.N
www.worldinformation.com
This site provides an additional source of current and
historical information about countries around the world.
www.rpcv.org
This is the site of the National Peace Corps Association, made
up of returned Volunteers. On this site you can find links to
all the Web pages of the friends of groups for most countries
of service, made up of former Volunteers who served in those
countries. There are also regional groups who frequently get
together for social events and local volunteer activities.
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www.rpcvwebring.org
This site is known as the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
Web Ring. Browse the Web ring and see what former
Volunteers are saying about their service.
www.peacecorpswriters.org
This site is hosted by a group of returned Volunteer writers.
It is a monthly online publication of essays and Volunteer
accounts of their Peace Corps service.
www.mozambique.mz/
The official Mozambican home page
www.usembassy-maputo.gov.mz/
The site of the U.S. Embassy in Maputo
www.embamoc-usa.org
The site of the Mozambican Embassy in Washington, D.C.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/default.stm
News about Africa from the BBC
www.africa-confidential.com/
An online newsletter about Africa (subscription required)
www.africaaction.org/index.php
The site of Africa Action, a U.S. organization that works for
political, economic, and social justice in Africa
www.psi.org
Population Services International
www.care.org
Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere
www.usaid.gov
U.S. Agency for International Development
www.africare.org
Africare
www.cdc.gov
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.unicef.org
UNICEF
www.undp.org
United Nations Development Programme
www.wfp.org/index2.html
World Food Programme
Recommended Books
1. Finnegan, William. A Complicated War: The
Harrowing of Mozambique. Berkeley: University of
California Press, 1993.
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4. Hoile, D. (ed.). Mozambique 1962-1993: A Political
Chronology. London: Mozambique Institute, 1994.
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NOTES
Telephones
You will not have a residential telephone, and you may not
have a telephone available at your worksite. However, public
telephones exist in Mozambique, and you will certainly have
the opportunity to make (or receive) international calls during
your serviceif not at your site, certainly within a days bus
ride.
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want to check with these companies periodically in case they
begin providing service, which would certainly be cheaper
than using the local phone service. Many Volunteers use toll-
free or low-cost services such as calling cards and Skype and
arrange for families and friends to use these services from the
U.S., as it is cheaper and generally the connection is better.
The service costs about $3 per hour and can be slowit takes
some Volunteers up to one hour just to read four messages
and write back. The American Cultural Center in Maputo
provides free Internet access to Mozambicans and Volunteers,
but it does not allow users to send email. Volunteers also have
access to the Peace Corps Information and Resource Center
located inside the Peace Corps/Mozambique office in Maputo,
where Volunteers can use the Internet and print documents.
Many Volunteers find USB flash drives useful for downloading
emails and documents to save time and money at Internet
cafes. Some Volunteers have successfully brought and used
their laptop computers at their sites (please note that not all
sites have electricity and/or are equipped to support usage
of a laptop). As with anything you may consider bringing to
Mozambique, use extreme caution and if you are concerned
about losing something, then we suggest you not bring it.
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and living space. Note that American concepts of privacy and
personal space are not necessarily shared by, or are realistic
for, Mozambicans, and adapting to a more communal lifestyle
may require considerable flexibility on your part. Note also
that sharing a house with another Volunteer requires extra
flexibility and open communication, as you both will have your
own stressors with which to contend
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restaurants. Canned/boxed products, whether Mozambican or
imported, can be found in Provincial capitals and some district
capitals.
Transportation
The hot weather will take some getting used to during your
first months at your site, especially for those who work in
the afternoon. Though the winter temperatures may appear
to be relatively mild, it is sometimes difficult to feel warm
during the winter because Mozambican buildings do not have
heating systems and are built mostly of cement, a poor heat
conductor. You will need a variety of clothing for both hot and
cold weather.
Social Activities
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Many Volunteers find that reading for pleasure becomes very
important, so be sure to bring your favorite books to enjoy
and share with other Volunteers. Also bring pictures of your
family, friends, and hometown to show to fellow Volunteers
and Mozambican friends. Consider bringing portable musical
instruments, sports equipment, or games you like to play.
Soccer, basketball, and volleyball are popular sports among
students and community members. If you are an avid runner,
for safety reasons, you may not be able to enjoy the freedom
of running whenever and wherever you want, but you will be
able to find ways to get the exercise you need.
Personal Safety
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Each staff member at the Peace Corps is committed
to providing Volunteers with the support they need to
successfully meet the challenges they will face to have a safe,
healthy, and productive service. We encourage Volunteers and
families to look at our safety and security information on the
Peace Corps website at www.peacecorps.gov/safety.
Technical Training
Technical training will prepare you to work in Mozambique
by building on the skills you already have and helping you
develop new skills in a manner appropriate to the needs of
the country. The Peace Corps staff, Mozambique experts,
and current Volunteers will conduct the training program.
Training places great emphasis on learning how to transfer the
skills you have to the community in which you will serve as a
Volunteer.
Language Training
As a Peace Corps Volunteer, you will find that language skills
are the key to personal and professional satisfaction during
your service. These skills are critical to your job performance,
they help you integrate into your community, and they can
ease your personal adaptation to the new surroundings.
Therefore, language training is the heart of the training
program, and you must successfully meet minimum language
requirements to complete training and become a Volunteer.
Mozambican language instructors teach formal language
classes five days a week in small groups of four to five people.
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Your language training will incorporate a community-based
approach. In addition to classroom time, you will be given
assignments to work on outside of the classroom and with
your host family. The goal is to get you to a point of basic
social communication skills so that you can practice and
develop language skills further once you are at your site. Prior
to being sworn in as a Volunteer, you will work on strategies
to continue language studies during your service.
Cross-Cultural Training
As part of your pre-service training, you will live with a
Mozambican host family. This experience is designed to ease
your transition to life at your site. Families go through an
orientation conducted by Peace Corps staff to explain the
purpose of pre-service training and to assist them in helping
you adapt to living in Mozambique. Many Volunteers form
strong and lasting friendships with their host families.
Health Training
During pre-service training, you will be given basic medical
training and information. You will be expected to practice
preventive health care and to take responsibility for your
own health by adhering to all medical policies. Trainees are
required to attend all medical sessions. The topics include
preventive health measures and minor and major medical
issues that you might encounter while in Mozambique.
Nutrition, mental health, safety and security, setting up a safe
living compound, and how to avoid HIV/AIDS and other STDs
are also covered.
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The number, length, and design of these trainings are adapted
to country-specific needs and conditions. The key to the
training system is that training events are integrated and
interrelated, from the pre-departure orientation through
the end of your service, and are planned, implemented, and
evaluated cooperatively by the training staff, Peace Corps
staff, and Volunteers.
The Peace Corps will provide you with all the necessary
inoculations, medications, and information to stay healthy.
Upon your arrival in Mozambique, you will receive a medical
handbook. At the end of training, you will receive a medical
kit with supplies to take care of mild illnesses and first aid
needs. The contents of the kit are listed later in this chapter.
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Maintaining Your Health
The Peace Corps medical officer will provide you with a kit
that contains basic items necessary to prevent and treat
illnesses that may occur during service. Kit items can be
periodically restocked at the medical office.
50 PEACE CORPS
Condoms
Dental floss
Diphenhydramine HCL 25 mg (Benadryl)
Insect repellent stick (Cutters)
Iodine tablets (for water purification)
Lip balm (Chapstick)
Oral rehydration salts
Oral thermometer (Fahrenheit)
Pseudoephedrine HCL 30 mg (Sudafed)
Robitussin-DM lozenges (for cough)
Scissors
Sterile gauze pads
Tetrahydrozaline eyedrops (Visine)
Tinactin (antifungal cream)
Tweezers
If your dental exam was done more than a year ago, or if your
physical exam is more than two years old, contact the Office
of Medical Services to find out whether you need to update
your records. If your dentist or Peace Corps dental consultant
has recommended that you undergo dental treatment or
repair, you must complete that work and make sure your
dentist sends requested confirmation reports or X-rays to the
Office of Medical Services.
If you wear eyeglasses, bring two pairs with youa pair and
a spare. If a pair breaks, the Peace Corps will replace it, using
the information your doctor in the United States provided
on the eyeglasses form during your examination. The Peace
Corps discourages you from using contact lenses during your
service to reduce your risk of developing a serious infection
or other eye disease. Most Peace Corps countries do not have
appropriate water and sanitation to support eye care with
the use of contact lenses. The Peace Corps will not supply
or replace contact lenses or associated solutions unless an
ophthalmologist has recommended their use for a specific
52 PEACE CORPS
medical condition and the Peace Corps Office of Medical
Services has given approval.
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Time of day: Assaults usually took place during the
evening, between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. though the
single hour with the largest percentage of assaults
was 1:00 a.m.(8 percent) Property crimes were more
common in the middle of the day, from noon to 9 p.m.
Absence of others: Assaults and property crimes (64
percent and 53 percent, respectively) occured more
frequently when the Volunteer was alone.
Relationship to assailant: In most assaults and property
crimes (64 percent and 85 percent), the Volunteer did
not know or could not identify the assailant.
Consumption of alcohol: 23 percent of all assaults
and 4 percent of all property crimes involved alcohol
consumption by Volunteers and/or assailants.
Risk factors can vary within countries throughout the
world that are served by the Peace Corps. A Volunteer in
Mozambique may face risks specific to this country in addition
to risks associated with living in a developing country.
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communication, coordination, oversight, and accountability of
all Peace Corps safety and security efforts. This office is led
by an associate director for safety and security who reports to
the Peace Corps Director and includes divisions which focus
on Volunteer safety and overseas security and crime statistics
and analysis.
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1Incidence rates equal the number of assaults per 100 Volunteers and trainees
per year (V/T years). Since most sexual assaults occur against females, only
female V/Ts are calculated in rapes and other sexual assaults.
2The average numbers of incidents are in parenthesis and equal the average
number of reported incidents for each year between 20032007. Numbers of
incidents are approximate due to rounding.
3Due to the small number of V/T years, incidence rates should be interpreted
with caution.
Source data on incidents are drawn from Assault Notification Surveillance
System (ANSS), Epidemiologic Surveillance System (ESS), and Crime
Incident Reporting Form (CIRF); the information is accurate as of 4-21-09.
Prior to CIRF and prior to 2006, Other Sexual Assaults were termed Minor
Sexual Assault. and Other Physical Assaults were termed Minor Physical
Assault per ANSS definitions.
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may not only lead to an incident but also raise questions
about your judgment. Initial impressions of people are very
strong and your early reputation may spread to the larger
community.
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Money/passport pouches worn around the neck or waist
and underneath clothing are handy, but the straps can be
cut or grabbed easily. If you decide to wear one, keep the
strap below the neckline of your shirt. A thick wire wound
around or through the strap of your pouch will make it
much more difficult to break.
Never leave your things (e.g., bags, books, camera, etc.)
unattended when your are doing something else. They can
disappear in an instant.
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Finally, in order for the Peace Corps to be fully responsive
to the needs of Volunteers, it is imperative that Volunteers
immediately report any security incident to the Peace
Corps office. The Peace Corps has established protocols
for addressing safety and security incidents in a timely and
appropriate manner, and it collects and evaluates safety
and security data to track trends and develop strategies to
minimize risks to future Volunteers.
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several sessions will be held to discuss diversity and coping
mechanisms. We look forward to having male and female
Volunteers from a variety of races, ethnic groups, ages,
religions, and sexual orientations, and hope that you will
become part of a diverse group of Americans who take pride
in supporting one another and demonstrating the richness of
American culture.
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Mozambicans are very generous, and the time you spend with
Mozambican women will be endearing and enlightening. The
friendships you form with women within your community and
throughout Mozambique are sure to be a positive aspect of
your time in Mozambique.
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Possible Issues for Volunteers with Disabilities
As part of the medical clearance process, the Peace Corps
Office of Medical Services determined that you were
physically and emotionally capable, with or without reasonable
accommodations, to perform a full tour of Volunteer service
in Mozambique without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself
or interruption of service. The Peace Corps/Mozambique
staff will work with disabled Volunteers to make reasonable
accommodations for them in training, housing, jobsites, or
other areas to enable them to serve safely and effectively.
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your site are not encouraged and may require permission from
your country director. The Peace Corps is not able to provide
your visitors with visa, medical, or travel assistance.
78 PEACE CORPS
Will there be e-mail and Internet access?
During pre-service training, you will be able to send and
receive email about once a week at one of the dozen or so
Internet businesses in Maputo (at a cost of approximately
$3 an hour). Access to computers and the Internet is still
relatively limited outside provincial capitals but is expanding
at a significant rate. Whether or not your bring a computer is
your decision and should be based on how happy you will feel
about having it. It may serve as a nice comfort, or it may make
you nervous about having it stolen. Note that some Peace
Corps housing will not have electricity.
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local language. Youll realize just how dorky you have become
when you flash yet another person a thumbs-up in greeting.
Then there are the bonds you form with the other
Volunteers, realizing youre all in it together. Despite the
horrible days that will inevitably come, you will see just how
amazing this experience is and how very fortunate we are to
be able to live this life.
Lindsey Hutchison
Xai-Xai, Gaza
84 PEACE CORPS
hell be back, but after 10 minutes he hasnt said a word to me
and I notice hes avoiding my stare. Im furious. Im covered in
goat urine, Im seasick, I smell like fish, my sunburned skin is
peeling off my face and arms. I decide I have to make a scene.
Its the only way Ill get my change.
I jump into the water (there is no dock, naturally), and
begin marching directly at the cobrador, whos in a crowd of
people, when I hear something familiar.
Teacher! Teacher James!
Oh no. I cant deal with students right now. Please dont ask
me for something. Please dont try to negotiate for a better
grade. Please dont ...
Good morning, Teacher!
Here we go ...
He greets me. He helps me get my money back. He tells me
hes waiting for his friend to arrive from Ilha de Chiloane, but
he must be on the other boat because hes not with me. He
says, Merry Christmas! and sends me on my way.
And thats why Im still here. Even when things seem as
though they couldnt possibly be any worse, theres something
that reminds me of why Im here, making all the problems
seem so trivial.
I hope you enjoy your experience in Mozambique as much as
I have!
James Konstenblatt
Mangunde
General Clothing
Unisex Items
Lightweight coat or jacket
Waterproof rain jacket or poncho
Swimsuit
Two pairs of jeans or casual pants the comfy ones that
you wear at home
Two or three pairs of walking-length shorts
T-shirts (in neutral colors)
Sweatpants
One or two heavy sweatshirts or sweaters
One or two long-sleeved shirts
Six to eight pairs of good-quality socks
For Men
Two or three pairs of dress pants
Three or four button-down shirts, both short- and
long-sleeved
One or two ties
Six to eight pairs of underwear
Shorts
One or two belts
For Women
Three to five knee-length or longer skirts or dresses
Three to five button-up or collared dress shirts
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Two nice pairs of pants for work (black or brown is
professional; khakis are also good)
One nice outfit for going out
Tank tops are fine as long as they are not
spaghetti straps
Five to seven T-shirts
Ten to 20 pairs of underwear
Cotton bras and sports bras
Shoes
Kitchen
Miscellaneous
Journal and/or sketch books
Makeup (you can get makeup here, but good makeup can
be expensive and hard to find)
Visor/hat
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Duct tape (extremely useful and unavailable locally); also
rope/string
Sewing kit with clothing thread and nylon thread for fixing
bags and hanging items on walls in your home
Funds for travel and vacations (cash and credit cards are
more practical than travelers checks)
Compact umbrella
Hobby materials
Art supplies
Favorite books
Dictionary
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NOTES
Family
Notify family that they should call the Peace Corps
Office of Special Services at any time if there is a
critical illness or death of a family member (24-hour
telephone number: 800.424.8580, extension 1470).
Give the Peace Corps On the Home Front handbook to
family and friends.
Passport/Travel
Forward to the Peace Corps travel office all paperwork
for the Peace Corps passport and visas.
Verify that luggage meets the size and weight limits for
international travel.
Obtain a personal passport if you plan to travel after
your service ends. (Your Peace Corps passport will
expire three months after you finish your service, so
if you plan to travel longer, you will need a regular
passport.)
Medical/Health
Complete any needed dental and medical work.
If you wear glasses, bring two pairs.
Arrange to bring a three-month supply of all
medications (including birth control pills) you are
currently taking.
Personal Papers
Bring a copy of your certificate of marriage or divorce.
Voting
Register to vote in the state of your home of record.
(Many state universities consider voting and payment
of state taxes as evidence of residence in that state.)
Obtain a voter registration card and take it with you
overseas.
Arrange to have an absentee ballot forwarded to you
overseas.
Personal Effects
Purchase personal property insurance to extend from
the time you leave your home for service overseas until
the time you complete your service and return to the
United States.
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Financial Management
Keep a bank account in your name in the U.S.
Obtain student loan deferment forms from the lender or
loan service.
Execute a Power of Attorney or Privacy Act Waiver for
the management of your property and business.
Arrange for deductions from your readjustment
allowance to pay alimony, child support, and other
debts through the Office of Volunteer & Personnel
Service Contract Services at 800.424.8580, extension
1770.
Place all important papersmortgages, deeds, stocks,
and bondsin a safe deposit box or with an attorney or
other caretaker.
For Direct/
Questions Toll-free Local
About: Staff Extension Number
Fax 202.692.2301
Attn:
Mozambique Desk
Medical Handled by a
Reimbursements Subcontractor 800.818.8772