Miguel the Artist
Miguel* first came to SOS Children's Villages in Tete as a frightened eight-year-old. He had been found along with four other young children in an abandoned wagon on the outskirts of Tete. The group had been kidnapped by RENAMO fighters, taken from their parents in Sofala province and then abandoned by the soldiers.
UNICEF officials found the bedraggled group and ensured that they found a safe home with SOS Children's Villages Mozambique.
Eight-year-old Miguel found solace in drawing. "I always drew a soldier fighting: that was the only thing that came to mind then. But I had a feeling that despite those traumatic scenes I had witnessed, I had an inborn gene of drawing."
Miguel grew up in SOS Children's Village Tete and completed both his primary and secondary education there. He passed his exams and was interested in all the things that young boys are traditionally interested in, with the notable inclusion of art. Miguel was always drawing!
It was impossible for his SOS mother to ignore his talents. In fact, everyone who came into contact with him soon became aware of the young artist in their midst.
Miguel transferred to Maputo, Mozambique's capital city, after completing his secondary education to pursue a course in fine arts at the respected Maputo School of Fine Arts.
Afterwards, Miguel put his talents to creative use during the building of SOS Children's Villages in Pemba. This village is situated on the east coast of Mozambique, within sight of the sea, and Miguel used the sea as a theme for a series of three-dimensional murals that decorate each of the houses in the village. Using concrete, Miguel produced the beautiful ornamental sculptures that are the pride of each house.
Miguel currently works as an art teacher at SOS Hermann Gmeiner School in Maputo. However, he has recently applied for a graphic design course at Cape Town University in South Africa. He feels that his portfolio is up to standard, but he is now waiting for his Mozambican diploma in fine arts to be recognized by the South African Qualifications Authority.
In ten years' time, Miguel sees himself as an entrepreneur running his own business in Mozambique. He will use his talents, combined with computer technology, to run a company that produces promotional materials such as calendars and business cards. Of course, he will also continue with his personal creative work.
* Changed name to protect privacy.