PRESS RELEASE 5TH MAY 2021
MINISTRY RELOCATION
5th May 2021, Pemba, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique - The Liberty Project is re-locating from Pemba in Cabo Delgado Province, to Nacala City in Nampula Province for an interim period, in response to the growing conflict and risk of occupation. Our ministry remains serving the marginalised and displaced in Northern Mozambique.
This decision, made by our Board of Directors, has come from both seeking God’s direction for the ministry in response to the current state of conflict and security advice.
We have also been strongly advised by our security & risk firm (offering us pro-bono services), that Pemba is no longer safe for our staff team and girls in the programme and there is a high risk of attempted occupation and attack of Pemba, in the province of Cabo Delgado in the next 6-18 months.
The most recent attack on Palma hitting global headlines has mean that many organizations and ministries in Pemba are re-evaluating their position in Pemba and many have already left.
Since December 2017 a violent insurgency has been growing across Cabo Delgado. Over 700,000 people have been displaced from villages and towns within our province and over 2000 people have been killed. In the last 1 1/2 years The Liberty Project has been working with women who have been displaced from these areas due to increased violence and threat.
Moving the Ministry:
We believe that the next coastal city, Nacala City in Nampula Province, only 5 1/2 hours by road from Pemba, provides an opportunity to find both safety for our team, and also continue our work with displaced women.
This move will protect our staff team, the women in the programme and preserve and prolong our ministry.
Our plan is to relocate our entire staff team and the girls in our programs, to relocate with us. Our core staff team and women in our programme have agreed to move with their families. Together this is approximately 19 people.
We plan on re-establishing in Nacala for the period of 2+years. We remain committed to Cabo Delgado, and our hope is that during this time conflict will cease and conditions will be present for our return to Pemba. In the meantime we are committed to working with women who have fled Cabo Delgado and are internally displaced in the Nacala area.
About Nacala City:
Nacala City is situated in Nampula Province, Mozambique’s most densely populated Province. Nacala has a population of approximately 225,000 people.
Nacala area currently hosts refugee camps with many internally displaced; people who have fled Cabo Delgado, due to attacks on their villages in the ongoing insurgency.
Nacala City provides us with safety and will protect our staff team and those who we serve within the Liberty Project.
Nacala City is home to the Makhuwa Nahara people group. The Makhuwa Nahara are considered to be an unreached people group as listed on the Joshua Project, less than 0.02% of the population are evangelical Christians.
Nacala City is 420km and a five 1/2 hour drive from Pemba.
Interestingly, we are seeing opportunities to expand our work. We already have contacts with other ministries on the ground, who are assisting us in re-establishing our ministry there and helping us find land to establish a base, and a home for our staff team and girls who are relocating with us.
View on GoogleMaps here.
Our mission:
Our mission remains the same: to work with vulnerable women who have experienced abuse, exploitation and who are internally displaced.
What next?
We are excited to relocate to Nacala and believe God has incredible things waiting for us there. We are expectant for all He has already prepared as we are committed to ministering freedom, true identity to displaced women through the gospel and equipping and empowering them through skills training and social enterprise establishment.
In the next two weeks:
Laura our founder will be making her way from South Africa to Nacala City (in convoy, with another missionary family), with the vehicle that has been provided for The Liberty Project. Once in Nacala, Laura will scout out locations for our re-establishment and establish further local connections.
In the next month:
From Nacala Laura will travel up to Pemba and together we will start to move everything from our women’s centre along with our team to Nacala.
Once in Nacala we need to begin the purchase of land and construction of housing for our staff team and women in our programme; along with the establishment of a Liberty Women’s Centre for discipleship, education, skills training and our artisan workshop for social and economic empowerment.
How you can help?
We greatly we need your support and your prayers for safety for us to complete this move and transition in safety and with everyone on board.
Our first most urgent need is to raise the US$8500 needed to be able to bring the vehicle legally into Mozambique across the border. This vehicle is vital: without it, we are unable to relocate our team and all the Liberty Project possessions that allow this ministry to thrive. Without relocation our team, ministry and belongings at extreme risk of damage and potential loss of life.
Over the next week, we will be sending out specific prayer points along with an appeal for the $8500 needed in order to have our vehicle to move everyone and everything. Without this, none of the above is possible.
To help us get the LandCruiser into Mozambique, you can give securely here.
We are seeking sponsorship for each girl in our programme.
This will help us relocate each women and provide food and housing assistance in Nacala. Each sponsorship also provides each girl with their own solar audio bible in their mother tongue language, daily discipleship lessons, weekly health and human rights education, skills training, and an apprenticeship in the Liberty Artisan Workshop. (Upon Establishment in Nacala)
Click one of the following names to set up your sponsorship. Or email us with any questions: hello@the-libertyproject.org
For up to date news on Mozambique in English, click here.
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Map of Northern Mozambique. Pemba Cabo Delgado Province, to Nacala, Nampula Province.
