Mozambique: Speaking Out on Taboos through the Arts
Posted On June 24, 2009
We, Xaverian Missionaries , arrived in Mozambique in 1992 as a response to the request made by the bishops seeking help for this war-devastated country (following the war for independence and civil war that lasted 20 years, 1972-92). The Church in Mozambique has a missionary structure (church, school, and cooperatives) catering to education and social needs as well as to religious ones.
AIDS HIV has been a scourge to the people of Mozambique, like many countries throughout the world. 1,500,000 people in Mozambique live with AIDS. More than 800,000 these are women and another 100,000 are children. 81,000 people have died of HIV AIDS in Mozambique as of 2007.
One way education and prevention is being developed is through the arts. A special street theater arts program finds unusual ways to help people talk about taboo subjects and open new vistas of understanding.
