Rising after the flood: how support restored hope for children in Searema

Manufahi, 01 October 2025 - At the foot of Mount Kablaki in Manufahi, the small village of Searema is home to EBF. (Escola Básica Filial) Searema, a place where children gather each day with dreams in their hearts and books in their hands. However, in 2021, those dreams were nearly washed away. 

That year, heavy rains brought devastating floods to the whole country, including Manufahi. Searema was hit hard. Water rushed into classrooms, soaking books, breaking chairs and tables, and leaving behind a trail of destruction.  For Tito, 11, and Riza, 12, the memory of that day is still vivid.  

“We were in the classroom when the rain started,” Tito says quietly. “Then water came into the classroom fast. Our teachers helped us run out to find a safe place before our parents arrived to fetch us. Our classroom was full of water. We couldn’t go to school for a whole week.”  

The children didn’t just lose their lessons; they lost their space to learn, their materials, and their sense of normality. Riza remembers how difficult it was afterward. “We had to share chairs and tables. Three of us used two chairs and one table. It was hard to concentrate. Our books were wet and torn.”  

But even in the face of hardship, the community came together. Teachers and students worked side by side to clean the classrooms, determined to bring learning back to life.  

Soon after, help arrived. With support from the Government of China, UNICEF partnered with the Ministry of Education to help schools like EBF. Searema to recover.

Through this support, 34 schools affected by the floods received new student chairs and tables, teacher chairs and tables, student notebooks and stationery, bookshelves, and other classroom learning materials, benefiting 19,310 children (9,744 Girls and 9,566 Boys), and 474 teachers (226 Males and 248 females). 

In addition, these schools also received Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment, including a laptop, a projector, and a printer at each school, to support remote learning when natural disasters make it difficult for students to attend classes in person. A total of 188 teachers (79 female and 109 male) has also been trained on how to introduce students to digital learning platforms. 
 

“Now we each have our own chair and table,” Tito says with a smile. “We don’t have to squeeze together anymore.”  

The new technology has brought excitement and curiosity into the classroom. Riza beams as she talks about the changes. “Before, we only read stories from books. Now can also learn from the Eskola ba Uma application, which includes summaries of each subject, exercise books, stories, educational songs, and videos. Learning has become more fun and exciting than ever before. It’s like our classroom has come alive.”   
 

Today, the laughter of children once again fills the classrooms of EBF. Searema. The flood may have tested their strength, but it could not wash away their hope. With every lesson learned and every dream rebuilt, the children of Searema are proving that when education is supported to stand firm, no storm can take the future away. 

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