The journey begins! Today we commence this expedition towards Mozambique, where InAGlobe aims to bring engineering project proposals to world-leading Universities in Europe, allowing students to design solutions to problems arising in areas of poverty and scarcity. In this first expedition, we hope to observe and understand the logistical and organisational landscape, as well as the culture as to design an online platform as ergonomic as possible. Furthermore, various data acquisition methods will be evaluated to assess their viability and efficiency in-situ. Lastly and most importantly, we hope to create strong partnerships with organisations and institutions in Mozambique that will ensure that InAGlobe can have access to well documented problems and potential implementing bodies.

The team united in Lisbon, with each one of us coming from different locations in Spain, Xavi from Menorca, Alberto from Madrid and Jaime from Vigo. The 11-hour flight to Mozambique was followed by 3 hours of migration, baggage claim and money exchange. Finally, at 10 A.M. we were on our way with Sergio to Xai-Xai, which would be another 3/4-hour drive. Sergio gave us good conversation on how Mozambique works, giving us a tip or two! Finally, at 2 o’clock we arrived at Fundação Khanimambo, near Xai-Xai Praia. Fundação Khanimambo is an educational facility for children that supports them from their earliest years until they graduate, where many then maintain their bond with the foundation as volunteers after. Alexia, the head of the foundation, took time out of her day to show us the work and their facilities, as well as listen to our proposal. She listened attentively and gave us extremely insightful advice. Alexia is a strong advocate for “good” aid and development initiatives and thus shares our strong values. The meeting was a success, and we agreed to collaborate and be of service if at all possible at any given time.

InAGlobe founders with Alexia Viera, Director and Founder of Fundación Khanimambo.

After the meeting was finished, we were led to the nursery to set up our beds for the night. This will be a very growing and powerful experience for all of us given the humungous spider that jumped out one of the mattresses that were set up. One of the volunteers then invited us to go to a beach “chiringuito” with her and other volunteers (but left whilst we set up). The “short walk” was over 3 km away with several up-hills and down-hills in between. However, it turned out to be very beautiful, with the vast ocean peaking over the sand dunes.

Once at the beach we shared experiences with the Khanimambo volunteers over some cold beers, and planned to travel together to our next destination tomorrow evening. They recommended the best meal at the beach which turned out to be some delicious chicken (Bomboo Beach), although our judgement might have been clouded by the fact that we hadn’t eaten since landing at 6 am. Without realising, the sun had set and we were stranded in the beach with a 3 km walk back. Luckily for us, halfway through the walk a “chapa” happened to drive by and we managed to get in. Chapas are vans which have been turned into public transport and provide a practical way for people to move around. This allowed us to be back at our place by seven, which is lights out in Xai Xai. Now we say goodnight to you, and look forward to sharing more stories tomorrow.

August 3, 2017

Landed and (not) stranded: Fundação Khanimambo

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