Food4Kids: A Lifeline in Northern Mozambique

For many children, their Food4Kids meal is the only meal they can count on

In the heart of northern Mozambique lies the province of Nampula. It is a vibrant yet deeply impoverished region.

It is also home to the Makua people, one of the country’s largest ethnic groups, as well as thousands of refugees who have fled war and unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

These communities - both native and displaced - face an ongoing hunger crisis. Many children go for days without a proper meal.

When I traveled to Nampula in 2023, I sat with Makua families in their villages as well as widows in the Maratane refugee camp.

Many of these women provide not only for their own children but also for orphans left behind by violence and disease. The resilience and faith of these women moves me deeply.

The Hidden Story Behind a Shared Meal

Despite their overwhelming challenges, they radiate strength and an unshakable love for the children.

One Sunday, after worshiping with the Makua in the remote village of Natitti, we shared a meal with the children. I noticed that the younger kids were given large plates of food - larger than I expected.

Curious, I asked one of the local leaders why. He told me that these portions are given to the youngest children first, and after they eat what they need, they take the rest home to share with their family.

That meal is often their only substantial meal for the entire week. Knowing this breaks my heart.

The Silent Toll of Hunger

Malnutrition is a silent killer in this place.

In the villages, ongoing drought and poor harvests make it nearly impossible to grow enough food. In the refugee camp, limited aid and overcrowded conditions mean families go hungry far too often.

The physical signs are evident—frail arms, swollen bellies, empty eyes.

What cannot be seen as easily is the deep emotional and spiritual toll that hunger takes on a child’s heart.

But we are working to change that!

Food4Kids: A Lifeline of Love

The WayFinders Africa ‘Food4Kids’ ministry is a lifeline that brings food, dignity, and hope to the most vulnerable.

Every meal is a message: You are seen. You are valued. You are loved.

When you join us in supporting Food4Kids, your donation goes directly to providing meals, supplies, and the infrastructure needed to sustain this program, in partnership with local churches in the region.

Together, we can be the hands and feet of Jesus in Nampula. We can bring hope to the hopeless, food to the hungry, and love to the forgotten.

How You Can Help

Your one-time gift of support will make a real difference:

• $30 feeds 5 children for 1 month

• $150 feeds a family for 2 months

• $500 provides hot meals for 600 children for a month

Want to make a lasting impact? Join our community of monthly donors and provide sustainable ongoing support for Food4Kids.

Give today at https://www.wayfindersafrica.org/give.

Let’s be the hands and feet of Jesus. Pray with us. Give generously. And believe with us for God’s peace and provision in the communities we serve.

Written by Angela Leyrer, Nurse Practitioner and board member for WayFindersAfrica.