PAULINA VANDAVANDA

Paulina is a driven and curious individual with a profound interest in defence, security, and state strategy. Paulina holds a degree in International Relations and Diplomacy and has completed specialized training in Leadership and Social Innovation at the Catholic University of Lisbon. Her professional background includes project coordination, stakeholder management, and fostering collaboration between communities and institutions.

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Q: Tell us a few things about you! Your background, your childhood and early beginnings! 

I am an only child and I lost both of my parents at a very young age. When I was six years old, I went to live with my aunt—my father's older sister—and her four children. I lived with them until recently, when I moved out to live on my own.

Despite the early loss of my parents, my childhood was a happy one. I always felt deeply loved and welcomed by everyone around me. At the same time, I was a child who imposed responsibilities on herself out of fear of being a problematic child and bringing shame to the family that took me in.

I grew up immersed in two distinct cultural worlds. I lived with a Makonde family but spent my holidays with my mother’s side of the family, who are Machangana—two tribes that are quite different from each other. I learned to appreciate and absorb the best from both sides, and this made my childhood truly unique.

From a young age, I showed talent in sports and dance. Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I embraced both passions—especially dancing and being active in sports. These spaces allowed me to meet and build strong friendships with many people.

At the beginning of my university journey, I discovered volunteering and fell in love with it. I began working on youth development through two platforms: the Mozambican Youth Parliament and AIESEC. As a university student, I was always highly committed and recognised for my performance—I even became class representative. During a short course I took over the holidays, I discovered the field of Peace and Security, and I felt like I had finally found my life purpose. Up until shortly before enrolling in my International Relations and Diplomacy degree, I had dreamed of becoming a doctor, but it didn’t work out. Still, I intend to keep saving lives—just through different platforms.

I have always been highly dedicated and have handled life’s challenges with strength and determination. I’ve actively sought and created new opportunities along the way. The cultural blend I was raised in, the loss of my parents, and the self-imposed sense of responsibility from a young age have all contributed to shaping a resilient spirit within me. Because of this, I have continually rediscovered and readapted myself to the challenges of the world—particularly as a woman and an African.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society currently?

In my point of view Mozambique faces several interconnected challenges. Gender inequality remains a major issue, with women and girls still facing barriers to education, leadership, and protection— especially in conflict-affected regions. Although they play critical roles in peacebuilding, they are often excluded from decision-making spaces.

Peace and security are fragile, particularly in the north, where violence has displaced thousands and disrupted social structures. Women and youth are the most affected, yet have the least voice in the recovery process.

We also face institutional fragility, with limited capacity and transparency in public systems. This weakens service delivery, slows partnerships, and reduces public trust—especially during political transitions.

Finally, the education system continues to struggle with quality and inclusion. Many children, particularly girls, drop out early due to poverty, gender norms, or lack of infrastructure. Education must go beyond access—it should empower young people to lead, innovate, and build peace.

Q: Share with us some of the hurdles that you had to overcome in your life so far? How did you handle them? 

The greatest hurdle I’ve faced in life was losing my parents.

It was, without a doubt, the most difficult experience I’ve been through—and yet, it became the foundation of who I am today. I was just a child when it happened, but it was in that absence that I began, very early on, to shape myself.

This is not a story of pity—it’s one of growth. That loss taught me responsibility, self-awareness, and resilience. I couldn’t wait for life to be easy; I had to step up, learn fast, and take care of myself and others.

Living with a new family and between two distinct cultural backgrounds—Makonde and Machangana— taught me to appreciate love, diversity and adaptability. I learned to listen before judging, observe before acting and earn respect through humility.

That experience didn’t make me a victim—it made me a determined, empathetic woman who is passionate about contributing to social change. It led me to work in peacebuilding, youth empowerment and gender equality, especially in fragile contexts.

Looking back, I’m grateful. That painful beginning gave me the strength, purpose and clarity I carry with me every day. I handled the hardest part of my life by turning it into a foundation for growth.

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you? 

A mentor is crucial because navigating life and career—especially coming from a background with early challenges—requires guidance, encouragement, and perspective. A mentor helps me see beyond immediate obstacles, nurtures my growth, and challenges me to be the best version of myself. They also offer wisdom from experience, which is invaluable in building leadership skills and resilience.

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share? 

Life taught me that strength often comes from adversity. Losing my parents early on was a turning point that forced me to grow up fast and take responsibility. Instead of feeling defeated, I learned to embrace challenges as opportunities to rebuild, reinvent, and find purpose. Resilience and empathy are not just personal traits—they are tools to create positive change in my community and beyond.

Q: Name a project, a foundation or a person in your country that you think is doing great work in helping improve other people's lives! 

Girl Move Academy

Q: What are some of the challenges that women in your country face and what efforts are being made towards gender equality?

Women in Mozambique face a range of challenges that impact their ability to fully participate in social, economic and political life. One of the most pressing issues is early marriage, which often cuts short girls’ education and exposes them to health risks and gender-based violence. Gender-based violence itself remains a serious concern, affecting many women across the country. Economic inequality is also a major barrier—many women work informally and struggle to access land, financial services, or leadership roles.

Despite these difficulties, I see strong and inspiring efforts towards gender equality in Mozambique. Programmes like Eu Sou Capaz and Raparinga Biz are doing important work empowering girls through education, mentorship and life skills training. These initiatives help reduce dropout rates and child marriage, giving young women more choices for their futures.

Locally, we also have powerful women-led movements that contribute to change. For example, Girl Move Academy is transforming the lives of young women by combining education, leadership training, and social activism. Manas magazine gives a strong voice to Mozambican women, discussing gender, culture, and empowerment in ways that resonate deeply with our communities. There are many other grassroots organisations led by women that tirelessly work to challenge stereotypes, support survivors of violence and build stronger, more inclusive societies.

At the political level, Mozambique has made progress with nearly half of parliamentary seats held by women, which shows a commitment to representation. However, cultural norms and structural barriers remain, and the journey towards true equality continues.

For me, gender equality is not just a policy goal—it’s a personal mission. I’m inspired daily by the resilience and leadership of Mozambican women, and I believe that through collective action and sustained effort, we can create a future where all women and girls have the opportunity to thrive.

Q: Share with us a motto you live by.    

YOLO - You Only Live Once, so make every challenge a chance to grow, every setback a step forward and live with purpose and resilience.

Q: If you had all the money needed to launch the project of your dreams, can you describe what you would do? 

If I had all the funding needed to launch the project of my dreams, I would create a comprehensive care centre dedicated to child soldiers and war survivors. This centre would provide a safe space where children could heal from trauma, receive psychological support and access education and vocational training. 

The goal would be not only to help them recover but to empower them to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope. The centre would offer holistic programmes—including counselling, healthcare, life skills and community reintegration—working closely with families and local leaders to ensure lasting impact. 

I believe that investing in these vulnerable children is investing in the future peace and stability of our society. This project would be a place of refuge, growth and transformation—where pain turns into resilience and trauma into opportunity.

Q: How is technology utilised for social impact in your country? For example are there mobile apps that support gender equality, inclusion, understanding of cultures?

In Mozambique, technology is gradually becoming a powerful tool for social impact. There are several initiatives using mobile platforms to promote gender equality and social inclusion—for example, apps that provide information on women’s rights, legal support and health services. Social media also plays a strong role in raising awareness and connecting communities from diverse cultural backgrounds.

However, challenges remain in expanding access and digital literacy, especially in rural areas, which is key to making technology a truly inclusive tool.

Q: Anything else that you may wish to add?  

I'm grateful for this opportunity.