Invisible Daughters: Born Without Papers, Silenced Without School

AFRICA EDUCATES HER – GRAND FINALE (ANGOLA)

Five Years of Fighting for Every Girl’s Right to Education

The Silence of Unregistered Girls -  Where Law Ends, Childhood Ends

Happy New Year to everyone.

Thank you for standing with us, for believing in this mission, and for walking this journey alongside us.

Today, we mark the grand finale of the 5th Anniversary of the Africa Educates Her Campaign in Angola—a campaign born to bring every girl back to school during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and to ensure that no girl is left behind because of poverty, lack of documentation, or neglect.

This work speaks directly to the Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 4 – Quality Education

• SDG 5 – Gender Equality

• SDG 1 – No Poverty

• SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being

• SDG 16 – Legal Identity for All

As many of you requested, we bring you an additional documentary to mark this historic moment.

This is not just a story.

It is a reality lived by thousands of children and families across Africa.

THE FAMILY OF MARIZA (MEURY)

A Story of Absence, Resilience, and Hope

Mariza, also known as Meury, is 15 years old.

Her story reflects the silent crisis of girls excluded from education—not because they lack dreams, but because they lack protection.

We visited this family, intervened, and rescued Meury from an unsafe environment. She is now being cared for by a more sustainable family, has been enrolled in school, and is slowly rebuilding her future.

Today, we return—not to celebrate yet—but to listen.

We visit her former home to hear the voices of her sisters and grandmother.

Her mother, Quimbita, was not present that day—but she came later to tell her side of the story.

INTERVIEW: MEURY (MARIZA), 15 YEARS OLD

Interviewer: Hello.

Meury: Hello.

Interviewer: How are you?

Meury: I’m fine, thank you.

Interviewer: What is your name?

Meury: Meury.

Interviewer: How old are you?

Meury: I am 15 years old.

Interviewer: Do you study?

Meury: No.

Interviewer: Why don’t you study?

Meury: I was expelled from school because of a debt—three months of unpaid school fees.

Interviewer: Why couldn’t the fees be paid?

Meury: We didn’t have money.

Interviewer: Does your father help?

Meury: He helped in the past. As far as I remember, he only paid two months in my entire life.

Interviewer: Do you have sisters?

Meury: Yes. I have four sisters.

Interviewer: Do they study?

Meury: Yes, they do.

Interviewer: Why are you the only one not studying?

Meury: Three of them attend a non-formal church school. One studies at a public school. I was placed in a different private school.

Interviewer: Do you have identity documents?

Meury: No.

Interviewer: Would you like to return to school?

Meury: Yes.

Interviewer: What support do you need?

Meury: Money to pay school fees and documents—birth certificate and ID.

INTERVIEW: LAURINDA PASCOAL (LAUDY), 20 YEARS OLD

Laurinda is Meury’s older sister.

She studies Grade 10, in Physical and Biological Sciences, and dreams of becoming a pharmacist, possibly studying medicine.

Laurinda explains:

Meury is not studying because of financial hardship and lack of identity documents.

Laurinda herself was able to study because she had an ID, which allowed her to enter the state education system.

Meury has no documents due to the father’s irresponsibility. In Angola, registering children requires the father’s documents and presence when he is alive. He repeatedly promises to come—but never does.

Message to her father:

“Look at your children’s suffering. Do not only care for the family you live with now. The children you abandoned may be the ones who help you one day.”

INTERVIEW: MILSIA, 9 YEARS OLD (YOUNGEST SISTER)

She studies Grade 3.

She has no identity documents.

Her message to her father:

“Daddy, please come. We need documents.”

INTERVIEW: CONSTÂNCIA BERNARDO (ZEZINHA), 13 YEARS OLD

She studies Grade 4, in a non-formal school, not officially recognized.

She has no documents.

Her father provides no financial support.

Her message:

“Father, please come and help us get documents. We are hungry.”

INTERVIEW: AVELINA BERNARDO MOISÉS, 17 YEARS OLD

She stopped studying in 2023, in Grade 7, due to lack of financial support and documents.

Her father abandoned the family.

She wants to return to school and asks only for help with documentation.

INTERVIEW: GRANDMOTHER DOMINGAS

She explains that the father abandoned the family while her daughter was six months pregnant.

One child suffers from a lung condition, requiring X-rays and medical expenses the father never supports.

She asks for legal intervention to compel the father to register the children.

MOMENT OF SOLIDARITY

Moved by their story, the team presents reusable menstrual health kits, easing costs and protecting dignity and health.

Tears. Gratitude. A moment of hope.

INTERVIEW: MOTHER – MARTA GOMES (QUIBITA), 35 YEARS OLD

A single mother of five, supporting seven people on 18,000 kwanzas per month as a washerwoman.

She is illiterate, left school at 14 due to poverty.

Her children experience learning delays because of long absences from school.

None of the 4 children have identity documents.

She admits lacking educational background, and the father abandoned them and never registered the children.

She declares herself as living below the poverty line.

She asks for:

• Academic support

• Material support

• Education for herself and her children

A TURNING POINT – INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD (11 OCTOBER)

This day reminds us that every girl has the right to education, health, legal identity, and dignity.

Meury stands before us.

She is 15 years old.
She has no documents.

We commit—publicly—to help her obtain documentation, enroll in school, and reunite both parents in legal responsibility.

“Happy International Day of the Girl Child, Meury.”

CONCLUSION – A CALL TO ACTION

This documentary reflects the heart of Africa Educates Her.

Five years later, our mission remains urgent.

Without documents, girls cannot access education.

Without education, poverty is inherited.

Without intervention, silence wins.

But today, we choose action.

In alignment with SDGs 1, 3, 4, 5, and 16, we reaffirm:

👉 Every girl counts.

👉 Every girl belongs in school.

👉 Every girl deserves a future.

Thank you for believing.

Thank you for supporting.

And thank you for walking with us into the next chapter.

Happy New Year.