BCI and partners promote prevention of child violence and encourage reading

The Luís Cabral Basic School, located in the city of Maputo, hosted an interactive lecture a few days ago as part of the “Reading to Grow” programme, an initiative of the Banco Comercial e de Investimentos (BCI), carried out in partnership with the Maputo Municipal Council and the Department of Assistance to Families and Minors Victims of Violence of the General Command of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique – City of Maputo.

The activity, aimed at 4th grade students, brought together dozens of children, and aimed to raise awareness among young people about the prevention of violence against children, promoting a culture of attention, protection and reporting of abusive behavior.

The lecture focused on the work “As Três Amigas e o Semáforo do Toque”, by the writer Lurdes Faife, who was present at the session and delighted the students by sharing the story of the book, created to help children recognize risky situations and know how to react safely.

According to Carla Mamade, Director of BCI’s Media Libraries, “the reading and dialogue we are promoting here today are not just a one-off activity. They are part of a broader strategy of preventive education, community awareness and sustainable social investment. BCI is committed to building a safer and fairer future for all children.”

On the occasion, the Director of Escola Básica Luís Cabral, Armando Silindo Raúl, thanked BCI and its partners for the initiative, highlighting the importance of the meeting that combines education, reading, prevention and the promotion of children's rights. The school, which currently teaches classes from 1st to 8th grade, has 1,720 students and plans to expand to 9th grade by 2026.

The session also included interventions by agents from the Department of Assistance to Families and Minors Victims of Violence, namely Judite Machava, Nádia Lucas Búzi and Augusto Massave, who interacted with the students, providing practical guidance on how to act when faced with a threat. Agent Nádia Lucas Búzi warned: “Nowadays, it is not only girls who suffer violence, boys too. And what makes the situation worse is silence. They must report it, otherwise they may run the risk of dropping out of school, contracting diseases, and suffering serious consequences.”