Salesian Missions : Lhanguene Orphanage and Training Center, Maputo, Mozambique -- mid-term evaluation, May 1995

Evaluation covers a period through 5/95. Given the difficult economic conditions in Mozambique, progress has been satisfactory. Remodeling and renovation work for the first half of the project will be completed by 7/31/95, which is within the time frame established in the contract with the builder. Although the first group of orphans have not yet taken up residence in the orphanage, all are attending primary school and receiving some oversight by the Salesians responsible for administering the orphanage and community center. Twenty-five of the forty orphans have lunch at the orphanage after completing their morning classes before returning to the families now looking after them. The orphans are expected to begin boarding at the orphanage by 9/30/95. The process of enrolling the second group of 40 will begin in October. The most serious problem to date has been the refusal of customs authorities to release the equipment and furnishings ordered from South Africa without first receiving payment of the import duties. Under an earlier agreement between the Salesian community in Mozambique and Government of Mozambique (GOM) authorities, the Ministry of Social Services is responsible for payment of these duties. The Salesian Delegate to Mozambique is trying to resolve this problem through official Ministry channels. Although the Salesians could easily solve this problem by paying the duties themselves, this would establish an unfortunate precedent with regard to the exemption previously granted, which the GOM has a legal responsibility to honor. The Salesians are not likely to recover any funds they pay for duties. If the problem is not resolved within the next 60 days, other options should be considered. For example, the Director of the orphanage could purchase locally the bare essentials needed to permit the orphans to move into the orphanage until a permanent solution is negotiated. The Salesians continue to offer a variety of educational programs to the local community, although on a limited scale pending completion of repairs and remodeling. These include typing instruction, literacy instruction, and formal sixth grade courses, the last two of which are being offered in the primary school located adjacent to the orphanage which the Salesian community has agreed to administer at the request of the Ministry of Education. In the first half of the year, USAID/M"s Controller"s Office recommended a number of improvements to strengthen the administration of funds provided to support the orphanage. The team endorses the thrust of the Controller"s report and believes that the implementation of many of the recommendations will strengthen project management. The construction of a new workshop building discussed in the project proposal as a later phase in restoration and development of the orphanage complex is nearing completion and is expected to be in operation during the last year of the project. The workshop, which will enable the Salesians to offer a greater variety of skills training programs, represents a very substantial contribution to the project"s long-term goals and a real dividend on the USAID"s investment. (Author abstract, modified)