Christian Council of Mozambique Core Activities Program, Mozambique
Girls in Mozambique put on an AIDS play. Photo: Karen and Bill Butt/UCC/Canada for CCM |
The Christian Council of Mozambique (CCM), founded by missionaries in 1948, is an association of 24 different Protestant denominations, including two associations – the Bible Society of Mozambique and the Scripture Union of Mozambique – and mainline churches such as Methodist, Anglican, Presbyterian, Nazarene, and Lutheran. Small African independent churches have also joined the council over the last five-to-six years. CCM programs focus on: the overall society of Mozambique, including the government of Mozambique; political parties; villagers countrywide; church leaders and religious groups; and women and youth groups. The CCM is active countrywide and has offices in all the provincial capitals.
Mozambique faces many challenges, and CCM continues: 1) to play a paramount role in peace-keeping and dialogue, education, and sharing of experiences with the government, the political parties, and civil society; 2) various community-level program by CMM addressing multiple issues and areas of concern; 3) assisting those who are affected by disaster, especially in the central and southern parts of the country, which are prone to natural disasters such as cyclones, floods, and droughts; 4) to increase its involvement in the fight against HIV/AIDS; and 5) working to bring about the gender equality that is necessary for a balanced society.
The Council’s objectives are: 1) to ensure that CCM has the capacity to implement programs based on Mozambican needs, even during fiscally unsure times; 2) to ensure that the Council is the voice of the voiceless and an advocate for the rights of vulnerable people throughout the country; 3) to not be constrained by “year marked” funds; 4) to enable CCM to continuously network and interact with Mozambican authorities, other church and church-related agencies, as well as other stake holders for experience sharing, so that the interests of the needy people of Mozambique are always heard and addressed.
CCM is committed to diversifying its funding sources over the coming years by looking into new funding partners, establishing a sharing costs system with different projects and programs, rendering payable services to villagers for no profit, and more importantly, increasing membership fees for the participating churches and denominations.
Since its foundation in 1948 CCM has been involved in humanitarian work, delivering aid to the most remote areas of the country, even during the war that devastated Mozambique until 1992. After the war, while continuing with relief activities, the Council embarked on rehabilitation and resettlement programs throughout the country for displaced peoples and refugees. Other areas of CCM work include peacebuilding initiatives, fostering dialogue between different political parties and the government, and projects that create hope by “turning swords into ploughshares.” A home for girls in need, advocacy work (including lobbying for economic justice, debt cancellation, and civic education), training in gender and development, leadership training, small business management initiatives, and encouraging interfaith harmony with those of other religions – all of these programs are within the large and inclusive vision of CCM.
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Updated 9/21/04
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