A second chance to learn

Ancuabe, Cabo Delgado - In Ancuabe, Cabo Delgado province, 9-year-old Saviana Daniel is living proof of how education can offer children a path back to learning in highly vulnerable contexts.

Due to the remoteness of her village, Saviana had never registered to attend school. Like many children in her community, she helped her family with subsistence farming before they were displaced to Intutupue in the Ancuabe district. With daily life focused on meeting basic needs, education felt distant, and her days passed without the routine of a classroom.

That began to change with the launch of the Accelerated Learning Programme during the 2025–2026 school year. Through strong community mobilisation, Saviana was identified and enrolled in preparatory activities designed to help children transition into primary education. The progress was swift. Within a few months, she was already writing vowels and developing basic numeracy skills, despite having been out of the education system for years.

Her father, Daniel Iassine, noticed changes that went beyond academic progress. He describes a “deep behavioural change”, marked by growing self confidence and a renewed enthusiasm for learning that carried into their home.

The family’s resilience has been tested in profound ways. Even after the tragic loss of Saviana’s brother Bernardo, who was also a beneficiary of the programme, her motivation to attend school did not fade. This continuity is closely linked to the Parental Leadership sessions, which supported Daniel and his wife to take an active role in their children’s education and to create a nurturing home environment that supports school retention.

Today, Saviana no longer sees farm work as her only future. Reintegrated into the formal education system, she is counting down to 27 February 2026, when she will begin Grade 1.

“I am very happy. I really want to study. I dream of becoming a teacher when I grow up, so I can teach other children,” she says.

Saviana’s journey reflects the wider impact of coordinated efforts to reach children who have been left behind by displacement and poverty. By helping children rebuild foundational skills and confidence, the programme is opening doors to education and opportunity for a new generation in Ancuabe.

UNICEF supports the Accelerated Learning Programme in partnership with the Ancuabe District Services for Education, Youth and Technology through the generous funding of the German Development Bank (KFW).