Bristol Link with Beira held a photography competition in Beira with the theme “Communities for a Sustainable City” which was sponsored by SWTUC, BITA and Rotary. The winning photos were selected by representatives of RPS, Boomsatsuma and ADEL Sofala. The prizes were handed over by a representative of BLB at ADEL’s office in Beira in August 2022. The winners were, from left to right:
António R. Dom Luís Gombe was born in 1989 and lives in Beira. António works as a photojournalist for the local newspaper, and is also a social activist. He likes to wander in the new Chiveve Park, the largest green park in Southern Africa, which contributes to reducing flooding in Beira. He is raising awareness in the communities about the importance of keeping drainage ditches clear.
António Alexandre Domingos was born in 1996, in Chimoio and is now a resident of Beira. António graduated in Communication and Graphic Design, enjoys photography and works in communication and marketing. He likes Beira’s landscapes and supports opportunities to develop post-cyclone resilient communities.
João Carlos Lisboa was born in 1998 in Beira, and raised by his mother after his father’s death. João is a management student, and has been taking photographs and making videos professionally for three years, and uses a drone. His passion for photography was awakened by the city of Beira, and he loves to photograph there.
First Prizes
Praia Nova Fishermen’s Association support their families through fishing. They seek help from the government and NGOs, to repair and replace boats which were dragged by the wind during the storms. Praia Nova is a neighbourhood prone to flooding, as climate change has increased the frequency of sea waters invading the homes of about six thousand families.
Photo: António Gombe
The unforgettable reality of the devastation of Cyclone Idai in 2019. In addition to the distress of families, there was significant destruction to buildings and services in the city. This school in Vaz, which had been recently built, was severely damaged. After the cyclone, the Government published new construction guidelines, with the aim of mitigating the effects of future cyclones. Many damaged buildings are still awaiting repair.
Photo: João Lisboa
Carla Augusto, city councillor for the Environment and Public Open Spaces takes part in a tree planting day, to preserve the environment in the city. The initiative aims to replace trees destroyed in the passage of Cyclone Idai, and combat the effects of climate change.
Photo: António Gombe
Communities return home from the displacement camps after the floods, thinking about a new lifestyle. For many this means reorientating their activities from fishing to agriculture during the flood season, or relocating from the coastal zone, and commuting to fishing areas.
Photo: António Gombe
Armando Lucas is a resident in Vaz, one of the neighbourhoods in Beira prone to annual flooding. Armando is planting fruit tree seedlings in his community as a way to reduce the impact of the storms. These have devastated the city of Beira since the passage of Cyclone Idai in 2019, which destroyed many previous tree plantings.
Photo: António Domingos
Second Prizes
These girls with their babies, are all under 18. The law prohibits marriage under 18, to promote the social and educational development of girls. These girls are from the most populous neighbourhood of the city of Beira, Munhava Central, where many organizations are launching an awareness campaign, with the motto “no marriage, yes school”.
Photo: Antonio Gombe
Inmates of Nhangau Open Prison produce vegetables, provide Reception Centres for orphans, learn car maintenance and sewing amongst other activities. According to Margarida João Jeque the head inmate, in the picture, this helps reduce crime, because when prisoners leaves, they have knowledge of work that can lead to making money to survive in the community.
Photo: Antonio Gombe
Luísa Jaime from the Estoril neighbourhood, lost everything in her life, including her husband in Cyclone Idai. Today she is determined, without anyone’s help, not to be a beggar. Luísa sells fried sweet potatoes chips in schools, to support herself and her son, and asks people of good faith to help grow her business. This woman is a fighter and survives in society on the basis of small business.
Photo: Antonio Gombe
Joao Miguel and Luís Inácio, are homeless orphans and survive by collecting rubbish from the dump in Munhava Matope. They will sell the collected waste, such as cans and bottles, to recycling companies and get about 50p per day, which is enough for a daily meal. They are proud to be helping to keep their city clean.
Photo: Antonio Gombe
Jorgina Fernandes from Chota-1 neighbourhood, was traumatised because her son was in the resuscitation room with malaria. Today she is a social activist and shares knowledge with pregnant mothers in hospitals on the correct use of sleeping nets to reduce exposure to malaria-carrying mosquitos. She says there are about 35 new hospitalised cases of malaria per day in her area. She wants to bring the correct use of mosquito nets to the attention of communities and appeals to them to raise awareness, and also clear surface water to avoid stagnant pools in backyards.
Photo: Antonio Gombe
Victoria Posse is married with three children. She has a vision of entrepreneurship, and in the mornings she goes to the bakery to buy bread to resell, together with other essential products for local families, which provides her with an income. This activity contributes to communities for a sustainable city, where women are socially and economically empowered through income-generating initiatives.
Photo: Antonio Domingos
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