Mandioca Croquettes
Friday was probably the day with the heaviest and most thrilling meetings of the trip, we were put on the spot, constantly having tremendously complicated questions thrown at us. Questions that despite causing some nervousness were crucial for a better definition and a better understanding of what InAGlobe needs to continue a construction process that will define a platform that will be widespread. The second half of the day involved running a workshop to better understand the project work that Mozambican students are involved with; and the drive and welcome to Casa do Gaiato, a complex which holds an orphanage and a school, but at the same time activates a whole community. Truly an example to all.
We started the day with the biggest of the biggest of universities in Mozambique, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane. This university is the one with the most outreach, the most name and the most resources in Mozambique, and thus for InAGlobe, our relationship with this is university will be primordial to reaching the more marginalised areas of the country as well as to engage the largest portion of students. The meeting was constructive, with a lot of discussion and prospective work as well as clarification. The Deputy Dean of UEM orally showed support to InAGlobe and we hope to bring back a memorandum of understanding in order to ensure a long-standing relationship and commitment to education of future engineers and the technological development and infrastructure of the country. Secondly, we had a meeting with Instituto Superior de Ciências e Tecnologia de Moçambique (ISCTEM), where once again we proposed the project and received extremely incisive and helpful feedback on the project and things to bare in mind, especially in terms of intellectual property and student engagement.
Following our meetings with the universities we headed to Universidade Sao Tomas de Mozambique (USTM) to run a workshop that would give us invaluable insight on to the technical, analytical and English-language capacities of their Information Technology and Agriculture students, as well as their interests, drives and fields of research (for their final year projects). We found ourselves conversing with a cohort of extremely interested and capable students, that believed in the cause to develop their country further. In addition, these students were also extremely excited about the possibility of conversing with students across the continents, allowing them insight into new cultures and new ways of working.
After the workshop, we had to make our way to the airport to meet Jose Manuel, the President of Fundación Mozambique Sur, a foundation that works as a right hand to obtaining funds for Casa do Gaiato. At the airport we got a ride to Casa do Gaiato, which was a 3-hour long meeting/guidance session, which on one part gave us an opportunity to understand how Casa do Gaiato and Fundação Encontro function, as well as for us to explain the InAGlobe venture to him. Upon arrival to the orphanage we had a chance to see the complex (at night), and had an amazing vegetable-based dinner with some of the volunteers and the heads of the orphanage. During the meeting, Quiteria, the top-dog and a thrilling and endearing Brazilian nun that has been taking care of the orphanage for 26 years, pulled us up to present in-front of the 150 boys that were held in the orphanage. In 3 minutes we had to present ourselves and tell them what we were here for; and once after we received a huge applause, as naturally would occur from a crowd of 150 people. After dinner, we had a chance to interact a little with the boys, finding them incredibly affectionate and curious.
One anecdote that has a chilling beginning but a heart warming plot is that of an abandoned 2-year-old, that was left by the river and was rescued by Quiteria a couple weeks ago (and also found the child adoptive parents). Joao showed very advanced forms of mannerisms, as well as a series of incredibly subtle but at the same time expressive faces that few actors can yet manage. During the dinner, Xavi found himself quite rejected by Joao. Whilst the baby showed proximity and warmth towards Quiteria, once Xavi attempted to get himself involved in the scene, Joao did not take any of it. He actively pushed Xavi’s arm away, not giving him a second of his time nor a moment’s look.
The next blog post on our experience on Casa do Gaiato will be a bomb. Never have we had a more thrilling, random and powerful day in terms of emotions and experiences! So look out for the next post!