A piece of land brings Mónica closer to a safer future

Mueda, Cabo Delgado – Mónica Salésio, 25, is the mother of three children, aged 9, 4 and 2. Her life changed completely in June 2025, when armed men attacked the community where she lived in Muidumbe District.

"At that moment, my only thought was to escape with my children and find a safe place to live," Mónica remembers.

Unable to take almost anything with her, Mónica fled with her mother and three children to Mueda District. They had no relatives or friends there, but members of the local community welcomed them and gave them a place to begin again.

Before being displaced, Mónica had a home and a small business producing and selling traditional drinks, which helped her support her family. She also grew food on her farm. After arriving in Mueda, she lost her independence and had to rely on the kindness of the local community and assistance programmes for displaced families.

"It was very difficult to depend on other people for almost everything. I was used to working to support my children," she says.

Determined to rebuild her life, Mónica began working on other people’s farms to earn an income. Little by little, she used some of the money to restart her traditional drink business, the same activity she had carried out in Muidumbe. Through hard work and determination, she was once again able to provide for her family.

However, one concern remained: she still did not have a home of her own.

"As long as we live in someone else's house, I don't feel completely safe. I worry that one day the owner may need the house, and we will have nowhere to go. Returning to Muidumbe is not an option because of the violence we experienced."

With this goal in mind, Mónica began saving part of her income to buy a small piece of land, where she dreams of building a house and raising her children in safety.

That dream came closer to becoming a reality when she received support through direct cash payments, an initiative of Mozambique’s National Institute of Social Action (INAS) and UNICEF, funded by the Eastern and Southern Africa Humanitarian Fund (ESAHF). The programme supports 2,500 displaced, returnee and host families in Mueda District, helping them meet their most urgent needs and protect the well-being of their children.

"When I received this support, I felt a great sense of relief. I will combine this money with my savings and finally finish paying for my land. Now I know my children will have a safe place to grow up," says Mónica.

For Mónica, owning a piece of land means leaving behind some of the uncertainty of displacement, protecting her children and building a future away from the violence that changed her family’s life.

"Now I feel that my dream is much closer. I want to stay in Mueda, build my house, and give my children a peaceful life."

For displaced, returnee and host families, financial assistance means much more than a cash grant. It offers an opportunity to regain their independence, strengthen their livelihoods and create a safer and more stable environment where children can grow and thrive.