The end of war in Mozambique

People in Mozambique, a country in Africa, are very poor. Many haven't been to school and can't read or write. Most don't have clean drinking water. What's more, the country was at war for 16 years, making life even more difficult.

In 1992, the war ended. Many people hid their weapons instead of handing them in, afraid that they might need them again. Now, thanks to a very cool project, people can swap their weapons for tools.

An organisation called the Christian Council of Mozambique gives people sewing machines, bicycles and ploughs in return for their weapons. These tools mean people can do things like make clothes, get to work without paying for transport and grow more food. These ways of making money give many people who are very poor real hope for a better future.

What's also very cool is that a group of artists are making fantastic sculptures out of the weapons that are handed in. The sculptures remind people that fighting is bad and the world is a nicer place when it's full off beautiful things.

Cool competition

Can YOU turn a weapon into art?
Click here to find out more

Click here to see a gallery of sculptures

Christian Aid/Paul Hackett

A worker cuts up some weapons that have been handed in