We sit in the Atlantic Ocean 570km off the coast of West Africa
We are a group of 10 islands and the nearest country to us is Senegal.
We are known for the strong winds that blow onto the island.
Kitesurfing is very popular here as the conditions are pretty much perfect all year!
We have the 3rd largest population of nesting Loggerhead turtles.
We are also home to 5 other species of turtle, including the Leatherback and Hawksbill.
Cape Verde is 570km off the coast of Senegal in West Africa and is made up of 10 islands, all with a very different feel. The almost moon-like landscape of Sal seems an unusual choice for the main tourist island but the miles of sandy beaches, colourful town of Santa Maria and the Terra Boa lake mirage makes it an intriguing place to visit. The main language spoken in Cape Verde is Portguese as the islands were ruled by Portugal until 1975, althrough Creole is often spoken in conversation and gives the islands a distinctly African feel. Positioned in the Atlantic Ocean Cape Verde has influences from many countries due to its position on transatlantic and european trade routes. Nowadays the islands are enjoying a boom in visitors who come to experience everything from kitesurfing and watersports to paddling with lemon sharks, floating in salt lakes (watch out for small cuts though as they sting!!) and helping the endangered turtle population. Despite few natural resources and being cut off from the mainland, Cape Verde is seen as a big success story in Africa as it is stable, developing responsabily and managing the growth of tourism, which the island relies on. If you get a chance to visit, look beyond the big hotels that call Cape Verde home and explore further afield as you'll discover just what these fascinating islands have to offer - you won't be disappointed!
Thank you so much to Aldir Duarte from Nos Kaza in Sal for gathering together all of the work that the children have done. It's been great to read all about them.
Capital: Praia
Population: 543,767
Currency: Cape Verdean Escudo
Andgely Monteiro Vaz
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10 years old
Sal, Palmeira Island
When I'm at home I feel happy. I love stories and match telling. I live with
my Grandmother and my favourite meal is spaghetti with chicken.
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Cindy Brunessa Forts D'Aguiar
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I live with my family in an abandoned hotel. I don't feel safe there and sometimes feel afraid. My favourite meal is Cachupa.
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Daniel Canfon
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8 yeras old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live at the front of the Cazu supermarket with my mother, brothers, stepfather and uncle. It feels good to be at home and I like to play games. My favourite meal is lentils.
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Denilson Patrick Medina Quintino
10 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live with my family and like playing cards with them. Outside it is too quiet but it feels good to be at home.
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Alessandro Ribeiro
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8 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
We will hopfully find out more information on Alessandro Ribeiro soon.
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Dilma Maria Pereira Conte
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7 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live with my father and brother and home makes me feel passionate. I like to play and listen to facts about history. My favourite food is grilled chicken.
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Djeniffer N'Diai
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12 yeras old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I feel safe but not entirely safe at home as outside there are people fighting and robbing. I live with my mother, stepfather and brothers and home to me means joy. I like playing ring and to cook and my favourite recipe is Little Head Papa.
Edinilton Moreno Cardoso Lopes
10 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
Home means protection, to me and outside there is a barricade. I live with my father, stepmother and brothers. I feel happy at home and my house is clean. My favourite food is spaghetti.
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Lia Raissa Varela Boaventura
8 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live by the municipal market with my family. I hear noise outside but inside I'm happy and I like clowning around with my brother!
Edmilson Gomes Birth
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12 years old
Espargos Town, Sal Island
Home feels good and makes me happy. I live with my mother, brother, aunt and uncle and outside I can hear wind, cars and mud. My favourite food is Cachupa.
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Ezra Correia
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I live near the salt habitat with my mother, father and brother. I love to play with my doll and hide and seek with my father. Home makes me feel good and my favourite food is crisps.
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Anderson Lopes
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10 yeras old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
We will hopefully learn more about Anderson Lopes soon.
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Kelton Cristiano Mota Goncalves
9 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I feel happy at home and live with my mother. I like our TV and love rice with everything
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Kelvin Patrick Martins Silva
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10 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I'm proud of my family and live with my mother, stepfather, grandfather, brother, cousins, aunt and uncle. I like to play with my brother and cousins and outside I hear good words. My favourite food is rice and fish.
Filipe Jose Oliveira Furtado
12 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live with my mother and home makes me feel protected. Once I tried to add sugar to my coffee, made a mess, and then added salt by accident! My favourite home-cooked meal is lasagne.
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Lizandro Jose Silvestre Monteiro
12 yeras old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live with my mum and dad and feel happy and relaxed at home. In my house I pride myself on taking care of my dogs, cats and doves. My favourite food is Pizza.
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Lucas Silva
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7 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I like to play and study at home and live with my mother, stepfather and brothers Zaion and Lauro. Home feels good and my favourite food is cuzcuz.
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Derik Augusto Fortes D'Aguiar
8 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live in an abandoned Russian Hotel with my mother and brothers. From my home I can hear noise and fighting. My favourite food is hamburgers.
Mamadou Camara Gomes
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7 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live with my family and I feel proud of my home. I like to play at home and listen to my uncle telling funny jokes. My favourite food is Cachupa.
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Marcia Monteiro
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12 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
Home is special to me and I feel protected there. I live with my family and my favourite food is pasta with vegetables. When I step outside of my home I hear people talking about coronavirus and wearing masks.
Marcio Monteiro Andrade
12 yeras old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live with my family and feel happy, brave and protected at home. I like listening to stories and my favourite food is dry spaghetti.
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Maria Musso Ture
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9 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live with my mother and I feel good at home. I like to dance and my favourite home-cooked meal is tchep, from Senegal.
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Mariana Mendes Seidy
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11 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live with my mother and brother and home, to me, means paradise. I really like reading the book 'The Five Spies' and my favourite home-cooked meal is lentils.
Mario de Pina
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9 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live with my family and I feel happy at home. I'm proud of my brothers and my favourite home-cooked meal is rice with fried fish and potatoes.
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Mauro Joaquim Rodrigues Oliveira
8 yeras old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live with my mother, stepfather, brothers and uncle. I feel happy at home because I can play. My favourite home-cooked meal is shwarma.
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Osmer Mane
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7 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live with my mother and brother and feel protected at home. Playing with my brother makes me feel happy and my favourite home-cooked meal is cachupa.
Tais Mariana Barreto Soares
11 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live with my parents, brother and cousins and we are all creative. Home is where I rest, have peace and be creative. Once I took 313 rope jumps and my family was very happy! My favourite home-cooked meal is my dad's chicken lasagne.
Renia Marizia Fortes Duarte Ascension
9 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I play lots of games at home and live with my parents, brothers, grandmother, cousins and uncles. Feeling at home means comfort and my favourtie home-cooked meal is lasagne.
Ronilson Cabral Correia
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11 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live with my mother, father and sister and being at home makes me feel good. My favourite home-cooked meal is pasta.
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Suleimane Ture
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7 yeras old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live in a hotel with my mother, father, sister and brother and outside is a car barricade. Home makes me feel happy as I play with my brothers and my favourite home-cooked meal is spaghetti.
Loridania Duarte
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8 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
We will hopefully learn more about Loridania Duarte soon.
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Vitoria Patricia Oliveira Lopes
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9 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
I live in front of the municipal market with my mother, stepfather and sisters. Home makes me feel happy and I like to play with my sisters. My favourite home-cooked meal is lasagne.
Wesley dos Reis
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9 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
Home makes me feel happy and my favourite meal is rice. I like to watch people clowning around.
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Marcelos Santos
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9 yeras old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
We will hopefully learn more about Marcelos Santos soon.
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Nos Kaza
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11 years old
Santa Maria, Sal Island
We've left a space free in case anymore children, from Nos Kaza, would like to appear in our magazine.
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THE
COOKING
CHALLENGE
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Osmer, Mamadou and Edmilson all said that their favourite home-cooked meal was Cachupa so what better recipe to try. This fish or meat based stew is popular in Cape Verde so let's see what our taste tester, Meggie Joy, thinks of it. We decided to use Chorizo sausage as the base for ours.
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Photo by African Vibes Magazine
THE
TASTE
TEST
In the words of our resident taste tester, Miss Meggie Joy, "It tasted really nice, especially the sausage. I think there was a bit too much cabbage though."
Thank you to Aldir Duarte and the team at Nos Kaza for working with all of the children that we've featured and for sending the pieces through to us. It's been great to meet you all!
THE HONESTY
BUTTON!
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