My brothers help me

“When it comes to girls’ rights in the home, things are starting to change here now. My brothers help me! My friends say that their brothers have also started helping them. It’s a big change from before. At school we’ve talked about how girls have the right to rest and time to do their homework.

“I know a lot of children who’ve lost their dad through poaching. Our leaders held meetings to make sure everyone understands that poaching is a crime. People are changing, and most here have stopped poaching now.”

Adélia, 12, Peace & Changemaker Generation Ambassador, Cubo Primary School, Mozambique many children weren’t coming to school.

“Some boys were sent out into the bush by their parents, even though they knew that poaching is illegal. I know two families that did that, and the sons were killed. Many have already stopped poaching, but I want to see everyone stop! There are lots of children here who don’t have a father, because he was killed while poaching.

“At home, us girls carry on doing most of the work, but the boys have already started helping out more. When I do the dishes, my brother knows that he should help by sweeping the yard. They’ve stopped doing the khomba initiation rite for girls, and we’re no longer forced to marry.”

Anastácia, 13, Peace & Changemaker Generation Ambassador, Cubo Primary School, Mozambique

Lion numbers fall by 90 percent

A hundred years ago, over 200,000 lions roamed the African plains. Now there are fewer than 23,000 lions left, which is a drop of 90 percent.