About

A ONG Hope  For Fulanis é uma associação para o desenvolvimento sustentável, que tem por finalidade a ajuda humanitária nas mais diversas áreas, designadamente na saúde, educação, nutrição infantil, formação profissional e captação de água potável. A Hope for Fulanis propõe-se promover o desenvolvimento humano em todas as suas formas, procurando que as comunidades se tornem auto sustentáveis, através de formação profissional, nomeadamente na área da costura.
Trabalha para que a alfabetização seja um direito de qualidade para todas as crianças.

Incentiva o desenvolvimento de refeitórios escolares para a defesa da qualidade da nutrição infantil.

Promove a igualdade de género em crianças e jovens, por meio das artes, o desporto e a música.

Apoia e forma professores das comunidades, capacitando-os para um ensino acessível e de qualidade.

Oferece assistência de saúde básica cooperando com os centros de saúde mais próximos da região onde se desenvolve.

Fomenta e financia a captação de água potável nas aldeias, de forma a prevenir e a erradicar doenças relacionadas com o consumo de água contaminada.

Promove a mudança de pensamento com o objetivo de acabar com a prática da Mutilação Genital Feminina.

Oferece formação e oportunidade a voluntários para terem expressão no terreno, através das suas capacidades pessoais, profissionais e sociais.

A Hope For Fulanis é a oportunidade para fazer a diferença na vida de alguém.

English

Hope for Fulanis NGO is an association for sustainable development, whose purpose is humanitarian aid in the most diverse areas, in health, education, child nutrition, professional training and drinking water. Hope for Fulanis promotes human development in all its forms, seeking that communities become self-sustainable, through professional training, namely in the field of sewing.

We work to make literacy a quality right for all children.

We encourage the development of school cafeterias to defend the quality of child nutrition.

We promote gender equality in children and young people, through the arts, sport and music.

We support and trains teachers in the communities, training them for accessible and quality education.

We offer basic health care by cooperating with the nearest health centers in the region where it develops.

We encourage and finance the collection of drinking water in the villages, in order to prevent and eradicate diseases related to the consumption of contaminated water.

We work together with the community to change their perception and to end the practice of Female Genital Mutilation.

We offer training and opportunities for volunteers to have expression on the ground, through their personal, professional and social skills.

Hope For Fulanis is the opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life.

In 2000 Gabriel and his family moved to Guine-Bissau, Africa, and stayed there for 2 years. They aimed to bring the gospel of Jesus to a Muslim ethnic group called Fulas. This community is the least-reached people in the world to date. Gabriel and his wife Laura support 15 schools, housing more than 1200 children in the east part of the country and influenced more than 5000 people. Gabriel is the founder of Hope For Fulanis, an organization that brought the MegaVoices Audio Bible to the Fulanis.

So far 1000 MegaVoices have been delivery. They now have the opportunity to listen to the stories of Jesus in their native language. In the last 17 years, after moving to Portugal, God is using Gabriel and Laura as a bridge for international ministries. Such as Leadership Formation, CanZion Institute, leading young musicians from Latin America, the United States, and Europe to serve in Africa.

Approximately 51 million people live in Africa.
The Fulanis are an ethnic group that comprises several dispersed populations throughout West Africa and in Central Africa. They came from Sudan in North Africa.
The African countries in which they are located include Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Gambia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Togo, the Central African Republic, Ghana, Liberia and Sudan in the east. The Fulanis are not the majority group in any of these countries, except Guinea.

99% of the Fulas are Muslim. A significant proportion of the Fulanis are constituted by cattle herders since the fifteenth century. The Fulanis are the ethnic group with the largest community of nomadic shepherds in the world.

Fula values and religion

For centuries, the Fulanis have followed the traditional religion of Africa, which is animistic in its roots. They believe in a supreme god, who has little or no contact with humans. They believe that there are supernatural forces that need to be controlled following certain traditions. If they follow the traditions of their ancestors, then things will work out well. But if they move away from the traditions or break the taboos, they believe they will end up with sick cattle and other misfortunes. They also use divination and make good plans to ensure their lives are in order. This is called “hakkilo”, which can be translated as intelligence or divination.

A second value is semi-tenuous, or reserve and modesty. From childhood, they already exercise this value. The child will always well behave in front of her parents. Marriage copples must keep some distance from each other in public. Fulas try not to speak out of place or make false assumptions.

The third value is “munyal”, which means exercising patience and self-control. Fulas value keeping their emotions under control and not reacting badly, even in difficult or tragedy situations. Violating these values, especially in public, would bring shame to the Fulanis, and more importantly, to his family and clan. Fulas would endure a lot to avoid shame.

These combined virtues are known as “pulaaku”, which can be translated as “Without Fula.” These virtues and the code of behavior with which they are accompanied is transmitted from generation to generation.