Mozambique Diary
December 8 - December 14, 2002
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On operations:
Cobue is located in the Province of Niassa, one of the northern Province of Mozambique, the task name is Cobue Lago it is one of the prioritized task for provincial work plan in Niassa, mines pose danger to local farmers and community, Frelimo soldiers laid mines in order to defend their barracks and other infra structures, the common mines found in area are PMN and PMD-6. accident has happened in this area involving a school boy and an animal. The government has plan to open a new school.
The task has finally finished on 14/11/02 and it was handed over to the local authorities on 30/11/02, it was a big party in District when we officially gave the locals the land, "now we can work the land without fearing the mines" they said in grate joy, I am very happy too because Cobue is very far from town and probably our next task in a district called Quamba.
The life in general
My name is Alexandre Arlope I am thirty years old, I was born in Nampula province, I am married and we have two children, a boy and a girl, the boy is the first born and he has got nine years and the girl is seven years old, the boy is now attending grade four and the girl is attending grade three. I did not go too far in the school because my parents didn't have enough money to pay my school fees, I studied up to grade eight, I did my primary school in a school called Escola primaria de Napipine then I was transferred to a school called Escola Secundaria de Nampula there I did standard eight and stopped.
My political party is Frelimo it's the party in the power now, I love this party since I was a kid, I am Christian but I don't pray very often, only when I am on leave or when we are working close to a church, all my family are Christians. I don't drink neither smoke, I like a kind of African music called Kuassa-kuassa it is very strong music we sweat a lot when we dance this type of music. I have never joined the army.
Before I joined HALO Trust I was a businessman I used to buy and sell whatever I thought it would give me some profit to help me and my family, but the profit wasn't always enough to feed my family, I had to look for a job, after long period of searching I had from the radio that HALO was employing people, I past all the interview and testes then started working for them, I love the job I have ambition of one day reach a post of supervisor, it is good because the salary is higher. With the money I receive I pay my children education, buy food, cloth, etc. I am saving some to build a house, I hope HALO Trust will take long in Mozambique so I can achieve my dreams.
Alexandre Arlope
(Deminer)
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