Attachments
Since the conflict erupted in Cabo Delgado in 2017, communities from districts such as Quissanga, Mocímboa da Praia, Macomia, Palma, and Muidumbe have been repeatedlydisplaced. Many families found safety in host areas like Ntokota (Metuge District), whileothers have begun returning to places of origin such as Filipe Nyusi (Mocímboa da Praia),often finding their homes destroyed and livelihoods lost.
Women and girls making up more than half of the displaced population face heightened vulnerabilities, including limited services, loss of income, and increased protection risks. Inresponse, IOM Mozambique, through the CCCM programme, is implementing the Women’sParticipation Project (WPP) to strengthen women’s leadership and participation incommunity decision-making. Through Women’s Committees, the WPP creates safe spaceswhere women share information, support one another, and engage actively in governanceand site management. These committees foster solidarity, confidence, and resilience amongdisplaced and returning women.
This story collection captures the voices of women from Ntokota and Filipe Nyusi stories of disrupted childhoods, displacement, return, survival, and hope. Despite destroyed homes,scarce resources, and ongoing insecurity, these women continue to rise and rebuild. Theirexperiences demonstrate the powerful role of women in restoring dignity, strengtheningcommunities, and shaping the recovery of Cabo Delgado.
A total of 40 women from Ntocota (Metuge) and Filipe Nyusi (Mocímboa da Praia)participated in storytelling workshops facilitated by the CCCM team. The sessions weredesigned to provide a safe and supportive space for reflection and healing, enabling participants to share personal experiences in a creative, dignified, and community-centeredmanner. The stories compiled in this document were developed directly by the womenduring these workshops, ensuring authenticity and participant-led expression.