Meet 3-year-old Jose and 5-year-old Jucelina.
Just a week ago, their case was brought to our attention by a social worker who urged immediate placement. The children were living in horrific conditions. Though both their biological parents were alive, their home was far from safe. The mother was described as mentally unstable and incapable of caring for them. The father was aggressively violent, beating his wife daily in front of the children—leaving deep emotional wounds. The family had no home, no food, no money—nothing. Like so many families in Mozambique, they were merely surviving day by day.
Our Sunshine Approach Foundation primarily cares for orphaned children who have no family left to support them. However, we also make room for children like Jose and Jucelina—those with living parents who are unable to provide proper care. It is estimated that nearly 80% of children in orphanages worldwide still have a living parent. Jose and Jucelina had a father and a mother, but they were parents in name only.
When Social Action expressed urgency in placing the children with us—even before all paperwork was complete—we knew the situation was serious. Typically, they insist on having every document in perfect order before any placement occurs. We’ve waited weeks for other cases because of delays. But this time, the urgency was clear: the children had already been removed from their parents and were temporarily living with a social worker—something we had never encountered before.
Delcio and I met the children, their parents, and the social workers last Tuesday in a public location. When the father first saw us, the mother and the social workers told him, “Olha! Eles não são ladrões!” ("Look! They are not robbers!")—a heartbreaking reflection of the fear that child trafficking brings to families here. The workers explained who we were and what we could offer the children. The father listened quietly and thanked us for caring.
From the start, it was clear the father was aggressive. Several times during our brief meeting, he raised his hand to strike his wife. The social workers intervened, warning him that such behavior was criminal and would be reported. We made it very clear to them: if we accepted the children, their parents could never know our location or the name of our foundation. The safety of all our children must come first.
The mother’s behavior was puzzling and deeply sad. It wasn’t her mental state that struck us most, but the way she came prepared to hand the children over—clothes packed in a small plastic grocery bag. She kept pushing both the children and the bag toward us, as if to say, “Take them. Take them now.”
After our meeting, we went to the local government office to seek permission from the chefe do posto (the local chief). But due to other obligations, the social workers couldn’t finalize the process until Friday.
Then on Thursday of the same week, we were scheduled to receive two other children. When we arrived at the office of Social Action, we were surprised to see Jose, Jucelina, and their mother waiting for us again—plastic bag in hand, urging us to take them. It was odd. And it was heartbreaking. But we still lacked the father’s official declaration and the final government approval. So, once again, we had no choice but to leave them with their mother.
By Friday, the father had submitted a signed declaration relinquishing his parental rights and consenting to place the children in our care. Everything was in order—yet we were told we would have to wait until the following week due to the fact that the chefe and social workers were busy.
Then came today, Monday. Delcio received a tearful call from the social worker who had been sheltering the children and their mother. She told him that the mother had run away over the weekend—leaving the children behind. No one knew where she was.
Suddenly, it all made sense.
The mother had been preparing for this. She needed to escape her life of abuse. But first, she made sure her children would be safe. She made an incredibly difficult decision—a decision born from desperation but also love.
Delcio moved quickly into action. That same day, the social workers, the father, and the chefe do posto finalized all approvals.
Jose and Jucelina are now officially part of our Sunshine family.
Please join us in welcoming them with open arms. It is our joy and honor to offer them—and all 35 of our children—a loving home, an education, medical care, daily necessities, and most importantly, hope for a brighter future.
With each new child, our hearts grow fuller, but so does the need to provide. If you, your business, or your church would like to learn more about sponsoring a child or supporting a Sunshine House family, please contact us. We would love to share how you can help bring healing and hope to these precious lives.