Girls Helping Girls – Mozambique

Creating jewelry for sustainable futures

AMF has partnered with local Mozambican NGO Reencontro, to improve the lives of over 7,000 children orphaned by AIDS. Reencontro provides access to basic services and social assistance through community-based home care for children throughout Mozambique. Girls Helping Girls will work with a group of young girls who have lost their parents to AIDS, empowering them through training and tools to create beautiful jewelry.

Girls Helping Girls was created by Los Angeles highschool student Leah More. Leah started making jewelry when she was 7 years old. It was a way for her to make beautiful things for friends and family that were unique and made from the heart. Since then, Leah's designs have transformed from plastic and ceramic beads to semi-precious stones and 14k gold. She loves the creativity that jewelry-making allows her to share with others.

Leah on creating of the Girls Helping Girls Project:

"As I continued to make jewelry, I found a desire to give back, and began to donate part of the proceeds from my pieces to charities. When I first was introduced to AMF, I knew that I’d found an organization that shared my passion for helping young women. I’m honored and excited to be a part of AMF and to create beautiful jewelry that will also help provide for girls in Africa."

Girls Helping Girls works to create bridges of understanding between young girls in Mozambique and engaged world citizens. These girls who have lost their parents are given hope through an opportunity to create beautiful jewelry based off of Leah More's designs. Through sales in the US, these pieces offer empowerment to girls in Africa and education to consumers on the realities children orphaned by AIDS face.

Meet the girls

Cecilia Masinga
17 years old, 7th grader
Orphaned, lost both parents to AIDS
Lives with her grandmother and 3 brothers. She enjoys cooking rice and meat
Sponsorship Needed: $20 Jewelry Toolkit & $60 Training Stipend

Maria Manuario Lumbela
15 years old, 7th grader
Orphaned, lost both parents to AIDS
Lives with her 20 year old brother, the head of the household
Full Sponsorship by: Malena Ruth

Atalia Albino Tivane
18 years old, 9th grader
Orphaned, lost both parents to AIDS
Lives with 3 brothers & 28 year old sister, the head of the household. Her sister provides for the family by working in the market. She likes to study and cook
Full Sponsorship by: Rebecca Lawton

Celina Amtonio Modlane
15 years old, 7th grader
Lost her father to AIDS. Lives with her mother and sister. She likes to study Portuguese
Sponsorship Needed: $20 Jewelry Toolkit & $60 Training Stipend

Rosa Isabel Baloi
16 years old, 7th grader
Orphaned, lost both parents to AIDS
She lives with her grandmother
She likes to dance a lot
Full Sponsorship by: Leslie Robinoff & Rosy Barraza

Margarida Sabastiao Bila
15 years old, 8th grader
Lost her father to AIDS
Lives with her mother and 4 brothers. She likes to study and cook vegetable
Sponsorship Needed: $20 Jewelry Toolkit & $60 Training Stipend

Nilza Azira
18 years old, 12th grader
Orphaned & lost bother parents to AIDS
She lives with her grandmother who sells vegetables in the market
She loves to cook
Full Sponsorship by: Valerie Ulene

Hamina Yaime Matsunhe
14 years old, 8th grader
Lost her father to AIDS
Lives with her mother, grandmother and 2 brothers
Likes to play basketball and sell juice in the market
Full Sponsorship by: Maria Cozzi

Anita Albino
15 years old, 9th grader
Lost her father to AIDS
Lives with her mother and 2 brothers
Sponsorship Needed: $20 Jewelry Toolkit & $60 Training Stipend

Crizalda Augnsto Cumbe
16 years old, 9th grader
Lost her mother to AIDS, & her father left for another woman
She lives with her uncle
She likes to cook porridge
Full Sponsorship by : Linda Burman & Leah More

Eulalia Elias Matavel
15 years old
Orphaned, lost both parents to AIDS. Lives with her 7 brothers, her eldest 25 year old brother is the head of the household. She likes to play soccer and cook
Tool kit Sponsored by: Ericka Green, Sponsorship Needed: $60 Training Stipend

Abiba Carlos Abibo
16 years old
Lost her father to AIDS. She lives with her mother who sells vegetables at the market to support her and four brothers. She likes to cook
Sponsorship Needed: $20 Jewelry Toolkit & $60 Training Stipend

Joisa Antonio Mahumane
14 years old, 9th grader
Lost her father to AIDS & her mother moved to South Africa
She lives with her grandmother
She likes to cook vegetables
Full Sponsorship by: Maria Cozzi

Cidelia Celeste Nguenha
14 years old, 6th grader
Orphaned, lost parents to AIDS. Lives with her brother & 20 years old sister, the head of the household. Family lives only from support of Reencontro. She likes to clean
Tool Kit & additional Sponsored by: Ericka Green. Sponsorship Needed: $20

Margarida Rubao Olombe
15 years old
Orphaned, lost both parents to AIDS
She wants to go to school but her sister, the head of the household, does not allow her to do so. She needs her help at home. Her sister is supporting her and two brothers
She likes to cook
Full Sponsorship by: Erwin more

Cidalia Armando Mwate
19 years old, 8th grader
Lost her father to AIDS. She lives with her mother who cleans a pharmacy to support her and 3 brothers. She likes to cook beans
Sponsorship Needed: $20 Jewelry Toolkit & $60 Training Stipend

Ricardina Palmera Nwalane
14 years old, 6th grader
Lost her father to AIDS
Lives with her mother who sells coal at the market to support her and 6 brothers
She likes to cook vegetables
Full Sponrship by: Damian Greco

Palmira Pelembe
15 years old, 10th grader
Orphaned, lost her parents to AIDS
She lives with her aunt and 1 brother. She likes to study and cook
Sponsorship Needed: $20 Jewelry Toolkit & $60 Training Stipend

Luisa Carlos Changule
17 years old, 10th grader
Lost her father to AIDS
She lives with her mother, 3 sisters & 1 brother. She likes to cook
Sponsorship Needed: $20 Jewelry Toolkit & $60 Training Stipend

Amelia Daniel Sitoe
13 years old, 7th grader
Lost her father to AIDS. She lives with her mother who sells beer in the market to support her and 3 brothers. She likes to play soccer and cook beans
Sponsorship Needed: $20 Jewelry Toolkit & $60 Training Stipend

All sales will directly benefit Reencontro and its efforts in alleviating the plight of AIDS orphans.

Girls Helping Girls – Mozambique

Creating jewelry for sustainable futures

Meet the girls

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