In rural Mozambique, generations of labour migration has meant that large numbers of men leave to find work in South Africa. This has often left women to raise their families and sustain their communities, with little formal education and even fewer resources.
Run by Olga and her daughter, Cleia, Hikone Mozambique provides a safe space where women can continue their education through adult literacy programmes, as well as learning about their rights, ethics and financial literacy.
Beyond the classroom, Hikone’s women-run farms and bakeries across Mozambique provide critical, practical, hands-on learning opportunities, while producing food for the women, their families and the wider community.
As these women gain skills, further their education and access economic opportunities, they are beginning to build more independent, sustainable futures for themselves, their families and their communities.
The Film
It was the day before the annual Hikone Women’s Conference, and in the brutal heat, the women were preparing for the arrival of hundreds of guests from all over Mozambique.
The conference was buzzing with workshops, panels, and speeches throughout the day. As the sun set over Mafuiane, the women gathered around the fire and shared stories of their past and future ambitions.
Hikone comes to teach women about their rights, how they can survive in this world. The goal is to empower. The goal is to make them grow, make the community grow, make this a place where everyone feels safe.
