UNICEF and EU Working Together to Build Stronger Schools and Communities in Montepuez
“I dream of a district where every child learns to read and write with quality, where teachers are present, schools are well equipped, and communities are actively engaged.”
Montepuez, Cabo Delgado - Carlitos Rajabo, 51, is more than a father of seven school-aged children. He is a passionate community leader committed to every child’s right to learn. In 2024, with support from the European Union (EU), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and local authorities, the District Forum of School Councils was established in Montepuez in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. Recognised for his dedication and ambition, Carlitos was unanimously elected president, reflecting his commitment to improving access to quality education.
Under his leadership, the Forum prioritizes three areas: reducing school absenteeism, strengthening financial transparency in school management, and mobilising communities to prevent gender-based violence.
For Carlitos, this role is more than a responsibility. It is a vision: “I dream of a district where every child learns to read and write with quality, where teachers are present, schools are well equipped, and communities are actively engaged,” says Carlitos.
Thanks to these joint efforts, this vision is steadily becoming a reality. Beyond supporting school councils, the initiative is strengthening school management, improving learning outcomes, and helping more children access education at the right age. Together, partners are laying the foundations for a brighter and more inclusive future for children in Montepuez.
“Our work in coordination with school clusters is generating positive results, such as reducing teacher absenteeism, reducing child marriage and earlier pregnancy through community sensitization, and even building of new classrooms using local materials in schools where children used to learn under the trees. We also seek partnerships with timber companies to supply wood to schools for the construction of desks at the local level,” says Carlitos.
The District Forum of School Councils in Montepuez is a partnership between UNICEF and local authorities, and it is funded by the EU.
