Felisberto the teacher, Mozambique

His name is Felisberto, but locally he’s known as Mr Sitoe, one of the most popular teachers at the primary school in his community. When he was younger, Felisberto was a sponsored child who benefited from the first work of World Vision in his community. Becoming a teacher was a wish that World Vision helped Felisberto to pursue — he won a scholarship to study and returned to give his contribution through education to his community.

Felisberto became a teacher in 2010, when he finished grade 10 and trained for a year in an intensive teacher’s course. Teachers in Mozambique are scarce — to the extent that the ratio of teacher to student is one to 60 in a classroom. In response to this issue, the government has created fast-track teaching programmes like the course Felisberto attended.

Becoming a teacher was a wish that World Vision helped Felisberto to pursue

Mr Sitoe is popular because of his friendly style when he teaches. He works at the first conventional school – one made with bricks and having a proper roof — in his community, an area where World Vision started to operate in 2000.

“I love our teacher because it’s clear when he is explaining something, I learn many things with him,” says nine-year-old Eldenencia, one of Mr Sitoe’s pupils.

“I learned from my teacher that we must respect others,” says 11-year-old Leovigildo.

Felisberto has been teaching for 5 years now and he loves his job. Now 25 years old, he still studies each evening in the same district, hoping to upgrade his degree in the future and become an even better teacher for his students.

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