
Orlando is an English/Portuguese languages Instructor. He has worked as a Teacher/Translator/Researcher for different organizations, including International Committee of the Red-Cross, MSF-Doctors Without Borders, World Vision and Plan International, and KGF Research and Associates. His most recent position was Community Engagement Coordinator for All Hands and Hearts, an International non-profit organization that provides relief to survivors of natural disasters. Orlando helped with fostering strong bonds between the local community and the organization/volunteers while they rebuilt two schools in Nhamatanda District, Mozambique.
In 2017, after completing the Young African Leaders Initiative Program (YALI) at Regional Leadership Centre Southern Africa, Pretoria (University of South Africa-UNISA) on Civic Leadership course, Orlando with his wife and children moved to Mutua where he started working on a voluntary basis helping children aged 8-17 learn basic computer skills and the English language.
Apart from being engaged in community activities as an activist, advocating for Mutua community development, Orlando has been involved in emergency and recovery work. He has helped International Organizations identify needy communities affected by cyclone Idai, contributed to the design and implementation of rural programs, participated in capacity building initiatives, and improved the health status of populations through dissemination and awareness-raising campaigns.
In addition, Orlando plans to continue working as a community activist, leading development and educational programs in the social area, collaborating with the Mozambican government in addressing educational challenges that Mozambique is facing through educational empowerment (Technology and language Learning), mainly in rural communities.
Orlando worked on a voluntary basis with the Peace Corps Volunteers and helped them to learn the local language and understand the Mozambican Culture. As a result of his work with them Orlando was able to learn English and technology. This helped him become a better English language and technology instructor and promoter in rural communities.
In 2004, with the help of Peace Corps Volunteers, Orlando formed one of his most proud accomplishments: the daily radio program called English for Búzi as a way of promoting the English language, both spoken and written. English for Búzi received a great response from the community, in particular, by many students who had the opportunity to work there. Although there were many people that struggled to speak “English”, this program has grown very strong over the years, and a noteworthy amount of people have progressed in speaking English as a result. The producers of this program included Peace Corps Volunteers, invited English speakers, and many others who were trying to learn.
Through these interactions with Peace Corps Volunteers, Orlando was able to truly understand the main mission of Peace Corps, which includes Americans learning about another culture, another country (in this case, Mozambique) learning about Americans, and finally promoting international development. During that time, Orlando realized that he shares similar values to those of Peace Corps and their mission. Like Peace Corps, he strongly believes in cultural exchange and cross-cultural development.
Due to the success of English for Buzi, Orlando plans on continuing in this direction by setting up an English language and Technology learning Lab in Mutua. As a country surrounded by neighboring English-speaking countries, English is a useful language to learn. Orlando hopes to continue to raise awareness with the people of Mutua around the importance of learning English and technology skills as a way to create more opportunities for themselves.

Joaquina has been a primary school teacher since 2008. She was trained at Instituto de Formação de professores de Inhamizua (IFP), a teachers training institute, in 2007. She was first placed as a teacher in Búzi district, Sofala province, where she worked at Chiconde primary school for 5 years. Later she accepted a position at Hambanhe primary school for 2 years, and then Chicoio Primary school for 2 years.
Currently Joaquiina lives in Mutua with her husband and children where she teaches grades 1 to 7 at Escola Primária Filipe Jacinto Nyussi. In 2017, she completed a short course on basic computer skills, and she hopes to spread this new knowledge to the children in Mutua.