UN Backs New Income Opportunities for Mozambique’s Youth
Mozambique has a striking reality — over 60% of its population is under the age of 24. This young majority is often called the country’s “transformative force,” but the journey from potential to prosperity isn’t always straightforward. On International Youth Day, celebrated under the theme “Local Youth Initiatives for the Sustainable Development Goals and Beyond” , the United Nations renewed its commitment to helping young Mozambicans find innovative ways to earn a living and create change in their communities.
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In Maputo, the UN News team visited Micaela Rufino Adriano, a representative for women with disabilities and advocate for those living with osteogenesis imperfecta. Speaking from her wheelchair, Micaela shared her personal challenges in accessing jobs, transportation, healthcare, and social integration. She described moments of discrimination — even in maternity care — where nurses questioned why she was there instead of simply offering the same treatment as any other expectant mother. Her story underscored how barriers extend far beyond economics, touching dignity and equal rights.
Earlier this month, central celebrations for Youth Day were held during the 8th National Youth Conference. Laura Tomm-Bonde, the UN’s acting resident coordinator in Mozambique, praised young people’s leadership in agriculture, digital inclusion, entrepreneurship, humanitarian work, and peacebuilding. She stressed that their local solutions are tackling global problems, and that their role must be central in shaping a sustainable future.
Further south, on the shores of Ponta de Ouro in Maputo Province, another story unfolded. Mussagy Anatércia Mahumane, known as Sagito, is just 18 but already an income-earner. Thanks to the Lwandi Surf project, he learned surfing and diving, becoming an instructor for locals and tourists. The ocean became both his workplace and his classroom — swimming alongside whales, dolphins, turtles, and even sharks. His ultimate dream? To become a marine biologist, inspired by the project’s social responsibility lessons.
That same project is led in part by Rómulo de Lima Oliveira from Brazil, who settled in Ponta de Ouro to train young Mozambicans in surfing. For him, this is “the job of the future” — one that not only offers livelihood but also builds confidence and life-saving skills. Some trainees have become certified lifeguards, saving more than 30 lives in just a month’s work.
For the UN, these stories prove that when young people are given tools, training, and opportunity, they can lift themselves and their communities. As Laura Tomm-Bonde put it, building a sustainable future means creating an environment where every young person — regardless of background — can grow, lead, and thrive. The call is clear: youth inclusion, representation, rights, and protection must stay at the heart of national development efforts.
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