Emelda is a teacher and Global “When I’m an adult I want to be someone who risks danger in the fight for children who need help. Just like the candidates for the World’s Children’s Prize,” says Emelda Zamambo, 12, an orphan from Maputo in Mozambique. But Emelda isn’t content to wait until she’s an adult to fight for the rights of the child. Early every morning, she runs her own school at home, for children who would not otherwise have the chance to go to school. She teaches them to read, write and count.
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, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10!!! The children count out loud together as Emelda points to the different numbers on the chalkboard. “Great! One more time!” she says, and they start again. It is 8.30 in the morning, and around ten children are sitting on the ground outside Emelda’s house, as they do every weekday. Their eyes are fixed on their young teacher as she writes new numbers on the simple piece of chipboard that is the school’s chalk-
Eraser
I bought this with my lunch money, instead of buying food at school.
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board. Emelda started her morning school almost a year ago, and most of these children have been attending since then. “I have always helped my younger brothers and sisters with their homework. We used to do it sitting in front of the house. Then word started to spread that I helped them with homework early in the morning. Suddenly, other children who wanted help started to turn up. To begin with it was just a few, but now I teach twelve children every day. For free, of course!” says Emelda, laughing. Some of Emelda’s students are neighbours who need a