War has left its mark on the city of Kuito,
Angola. This battered building serves as a
backdrop for street vendors and as a
hangout for some of Kuito’s 80,000 youth.
The AIM Angola team hopes to establish
a youth center as a means of reaching the
city’s youth at risk.

After nearly 30 years of almost continuous war, the hostilities ended abruptly for the former Portuguese, West African country of Angola in April 2002 leaving in its wake a nation of mangled population, buildings, and infrastructure. It’s claimed 1 in every 360 Angolans are amputees thanks to hidden land mines still littering the landscape.

The central city of Kuito, a major storage area for the country’s

agricultural wealth, underwent the longest siege of the 30 year civil war. Starting in 1993 it was surrounded and bombarded for 18 months. Thousands of people died from battle and starvation. It’s estimated over 3000 bodies are interred in the back yards of the town’s houses.

Saddled with an enormous peacetime reconstruction, the government presently is reaching out to the international community. Partnerships with the church, mission organizations, NGO’s (non-government organizations), relief, and UN agencies are starting to make a difference.

The Africa Inland Mission is involved in this new phase of hope and renewal. AIM’s Angola team sees a desperate need to reach out to people between the ages of 15 to 30.

"When AIM first arrived in Kuito we had a meeting with leaders in the community to discuss urgent needs and how we could help," says AIM missionary Kristy Rasanen. "Many of the questions [we asked] concerned the needs of youth. We were appalled at the answers we received.

"As for health concerns, the sexual promiscuity among youth is growing at an alarming rate. According to a survey done by nurse Mary Stewart, the average 18 year old has already had 19 sexual partners. Kuito does not have a voluntary AIDS testing center or counseling for youth diagnosed as HIV positive. Nor is there any readily accessible information of STD’s and how best to prevent them. "It’s as if they have fallen into a giant black hole, and no one has bothered to shine the light for them to climb out."

"As far as literacy and education concerns, there are 80,000 students in Kuito, and not one public access library. Most do not even own a book. Without access to books [these youth] are left with little option as far as their educational future. As to youth facilities in general, there is no gymnasium or functional park in the entire city.

"Church leaders are at a loss," says Kristy, "as youth continue to make up only a tiny percentage of regular church attendees. Obviously it has become an outdated and no longer necessary idea to the average young person. There are no youth specific church services, youth outreach, or regular youth events. It’s as if they have fallen into a giant black hole, and no one has bothered to shine the light for them to climb out."

Given the many youth-related needs in the city the team began exploring the idea of creating a youth center. According to team leader Randy Carpenter, the center would include a gymnasium, a library/resource center, and counseling clinic equipped with voluntary AIDS testing.

"We have talked about how it could function using principally Angolans to keep it working," says Randy. "A small cover charge could be required, either per visit or a larger amount might be paid for ‘membership.’ Either way, enough income could be generated to pay salaries for otherwise unemployed local believers."

In order to give the center a broad base, he said, "We would like to see a governing body composed of representatives of at least four evangelical denominations. Up to now it is the Brethren leader who has done [most] all the running with the idea."

Upon reviewing the proposal, the government leaders of Kuito have enthusiastically earmarked a plot to build the structure right next to a place where they have contracted to build 2500 houses with plans for schools and other infrastructure as the city expands. What an opportunity!

But to take advantage of this tremendous opportunity the Kuito Youth Center structure must be built. The estimated cost for this project is $300,000. If you would like to be involved with this you may contribute online or contribute by mail by sending a check payable to AIM at P.O. Box 178, Pearl River, NY, 10965. Please specify project ID 000176 (Kuito Youth Center)

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