The solidarity initiative came about "following some news about Gungo commune that made the reality known" from the inhabitants of that region, Victor Moniz, of the Back to Africa project, first explained in an interview to VerAngola.
"One of the objectives of this initiative is to really help overcome the isolation of that people," he said.
The project, which will be carried out under the slogan "Let's embrace this cause", will last three days. Counting on about one hundred vehicles, those involved will take goods of first necessity to the Portuguese Catholic missionaries.
The trip begins in Luanda, on October 31, and is expected to last until November 2. According to the person in charge, the trip will take place in "all-terrain vehicles".
"During the preparation trip it was found that the bite has a stretch of 16 kilometers in very bad condition which could jeopardize the integrity of the vehicles even if they are suitable for off-road," explained Victor Moniz, who also made it known that "the vehicles should undergo specific preparation in terms of tires and suspension" before embarking on this journey.
The first day will be dedicated "to the Gungo climb", he explained. "The second day aims to get to know and contact the local reality and the projects that are being prepared" and the third and last day is reserved for visitors to return home, completed Victor Moniz.
A total of 100 cars with a "limit number of participants" will participate in the trip. However, the number of people involved in the project is very large. Without advancing numbers, Victor Moniz explained that the initiative is composed of people from the administration and management of TLC and the Back to Africa project, members of the Mission of S. José do Gungo and the Portuguese Missionaries Group. In addition, the project also has the support of the "government bodies of the Province of Kwanza Sul and the Municipality of Sumbe".
"For concrete support in logistics and materials there are companies and private people who have been involved and are giving their support being an example the verification of the vehicles participating in the workshop Autopassarinho de Paulo Diogo", he added.
"At the Provincial Government level, support was requested mainly for the work to be done in the bite. We sincerely await the realization of this support for the good of the event and for the good of the people", he stressed.
As for the basic necessities, Victor Moniz said that they have already received some, but there will be a collection of goods. In addition, "each participating vehicle was invited to give as well".
In addition to the delivery of essential goods, the person in charge underlined that the challenge of monetary collaboration was launched to the participants. The funds will be used for "the water supply system of the mission from a spring" and for "the purchase of an agricultural tractor" for that area.
The Catholic mission is led by Father David Ferreira, who has been helping the commune since the year 2000. Although they have at their disposal, since 2010, a truck to help drain agricultural produce to the city and develop church-related activities, the poor state of the sting continues to keep the missionaries and the inhabitants of Gungo awake.
The degradation of the sting leaves the commune isolated. Located more than 110 kilometers from the municipality of Sumbe, Gungo has problems in transporting patients to the hospital and lack of a drinking water supply system.
The solidarity trip may be a light at the end of the tunnel, but Victor Moniz admits that there is still a lot to do. For the trip it may be necessary to use "a machine that covers some stones". However, this will be a temporary solution: "For the future and for the good of the people, the simple use of a levelling machine, we believe that it does not meet the needs of repairing the section in worse conditions," he said, adding that it will be necessary to make a deeper intervention, "to remove the stones that hinder the best progress on the road.
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