Abstract
Since its emergence, the Pan-African feminist movement has found expression in Mozambique, especially in the promotion of women’s rights. Popular education approaches have been a means of building a fairer world. This article analyses how the experience of the Female Economic Empowerment in Mozambique known as MUVA, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) present in Mozambique since 2016, created practical opportunities for emancipatory and transformative learning. Using a qualitative approach, we employed participant observation and creative letters to construct a detailed narrative. Instead of a generalised account, we offer situated reflections on MUVA’s daily practices and challenges in promoting gender equality and women empowerment. Despite legislative progress in women’s rights since independence, patriarchal norms still restrict women’s freedom in Mozambique. Feminist popular education challenges these norms by encouraging critical thinking to disrupt systems of social reproduction. Our argument, and contribution, is that training young facilitators in the practical application of Freirean methodology, with a feminist approach, leads to significant individual and social transformations.This results in projects focused on promoting women’s voices, expanding their resources and competences for decent work and economic empowerment.
Keywords: feminist popular education, Mozambique, MUVA, women’s rights
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03_FA-2024_Vol-5.3_Feature-Article-3_Rocha-et-al