2008 September Archive at Positivo Mozambique

Dear happy people Positivos,

Positivo team is having a terrific time and is sending you their best wishes from a place where tropical spring is arriving exactly now. Today’s special is Clare’s birthday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARE, not to mention Pierre’s brother and newly-born nephew, happy birthday and welcome to the world for them too.

To quote again our cherished president : ‘Positivo is absolutely rocking in Chimoio’.

And this is true. On monday, we met Africare and students from the school 7 de Abril for a first theme investigation, recorded local artists’ songs and finally found the theme-question for the workshop :

‘In which situations do you think it’s wrong to have sex ?’.

On tuesday, we produced flyers for the concert, met health professionals from the health centre and hospital, tested the question with 15 students, talked for an hour on the radio and worked on the song’s playback.

On wednesday, an electrical problem occurred and did not allow us to organize a proper concert in school. We somehow managed to realize an accoustic animation and collected 238 answers to the question, which were analysed in the afternoon in Africare’s offices and at night in Positivo’s headquarters. Africare found a generator for our next activities.

Eventually, thursday was a good workshop day, only disturbed by a 2 hours delay in food delivery. We still managed to record all the pupils’ voices and Roland is now mixing the final version of the song, that will be named Noramanguana (Tomorrow).

You will find recent pictures of this week in the gallery, and the new song on the frontpage on next monday, after tomorrow’s official 3 hours concert and final presentation in school. The band won’t have time to rest since another concert is programmed at night in GESOM cultural centre of Chimoio.

So we keep you and ourselves updated.

Love and smile

positivo

Dear Positivas and Positivos, after a hot summer on Austrian stages and in Spanish maternities, your favourite band finally turned itself into the biggest rock n’roll anti-HIV Mozambican project again. First Helio D, Isabel, Djibra and Tony had a great adventure in South Africa last week, importing new sound equipment now packed in cars that drove 10 hours from Inhambane to Chimoio on saturday with the whole team + Claire from Sangue Bom and Paul from the band. So 9 Positivos just arrived in Chimoio and will start a 2 weeks-project today, in 2 orphanages managed by our partner AFRICARE. Everyone got himself together yesterday on a sunny afternoon, starting with the opening meeting during which Campaign Manager scored the best quotes :
‘ The reason why we are here is because we think that we can make a difference. Our method is simple : to listen.’

‘ So we are full of smile, full of positive energy and, even if it sounds weird, full of love.’

Now Claire is cleaning the video-camera, Helen is making coffee, Darren is preparing the food list, Helio’s heating up the voice under the shower, Roland is fixing the car and I am writing this short message to all our fellows positivos in the world.The first school to be visited is named Escola 7 de Abril - around 1000 students, out of which 40 belong to a club linked to Africare Blockground Program and will participate in the workshop. Lady Tafadzwa is our contact in Africare and sounds 100% motivated :

‘I believe this project wil bring a lot to the kids, because they really need to express their own feelings.’

Local language is Mateua. Our translator will be journalist Narciso. Local artists are Chinho Aka Manstyle Afro and Nito Djembé, among others, who played a first jam session last night with Positivo. This project is full of positive people and vibrations. We will keep you informed and update pictures everyday.

Until tomorrow then, keep positive.

Positivo