the Kapasseni Project
Through our shared love of African songs, the lives of the Gettin’ Higher Choir and of our little village Kapasseni have become magically interwoven. It has meant so much to the people of Kapasseni to know there are people on the other side of the world who care so deeply.
The Kapasseni Project is dedicated to assisting in the regeneration of Mozambique by providing children and their families with educational opportunities, medical assistance, community development and spiritual support.
The project was founded in 1995 by Mozambican refugees and long-time Victoria, BC residents Joseph and Perpetua Alfazema. The couple were moved to help their homeland after a 30-year war that destroyed schools, hospitals, cropland, churches, roads and the ability of the people to live healthy, self-sufficient lives.
Moved to help make a difference, the Gettin’ Higher Choir has performed eight Concerts for Kapasseni since 1999.
With our help, the Kapasseni people have been able to:
- build a five-room schoolhouse;
- provide a breakfast program for the children;
- build, equip and staff a health centre;
- plant and manage gardens and an Agro-Forestry program;
- plant orchards;
- purchase and install a grinding mill;
- start and maintain a local market;
- raise funds for seeds;
- help fund an important eye care program;
- raise Aids awareness;
- purchase instruments and hire teachers for a traditional music program; and
- much, much more.
Children eat a hot breakfast each morning before school. (photo by Ben Fox)
The Alfazema’s story has been told in the televised documentary, Journey to Kapasseni, produced by Across Borders Media in Victoria.
We took on a little community in Mozambique in 1999, and we’ve been raising $10,000 to $25,000 a year since then. We’ve drilled wells, built a school, a health clinic and planted orchards. We’ve actually helped make Kapasseni into a community that has hope. We have a vested interest in what happens there. We know the names of the people who live there and that really helps.
For more information, visit www.kapasseni.org.