When I was younger, I was once told that real freedom is the freedom of the mind, the ability to think for oneself, ask questions, demand answers, create, and speak one’s truth. Once we could do so, once we were made literate, we would finally be free. Ever since that day, this vision of freedom has become my drive for life and the reality I have always dreamed of.
Although Mozambique declared its independence 45 years ago, our people have not yet achieved the independence of the mind. Today, Mozambique has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. Only 47% of the population is literate, with just 28% female literacy.*1 Out of the 94% of girls who enroll in primary school, more than half drop out in middle school, and only 1% continue to college.*2 Most girls leave school without basic reading or writing skills. Plus, child marriage was legal until July 2019, a result of the traditions that have prevailed for generations. Therefore, I see myself as an outlier. As a girl in Mozambique, I was able to go to college and dream bigger than most children could afford to. I was not the only young woman who deserved the gift of education. There are millions of young women who are as talented, capable, have potential, and so much more to offer. I just happened to be the lucky one whose parents value education.
After its independence in 1975, Mozambique was in great need of capable youth who could contribute to its reconstruction. My parents were part of those young people who were mobilized and inspired to see education as the key to prosperity and success. Thankfully, my parents did not force me to give up my education or get married as a teenager. Young people are like trees; they will succeed if watered. If young people are taught at an early age that education is the only way to be the change they want to see, they will realize the enormous power they have in their hands.
I dream of making education available for all, especially young women, so they can seize their own mental freedom and independence. After pursuing higher education, I hope to deliver solutions to the lack of educational resources and, above all, raise awareness about the benefits of supporting children in their educational journey. Education should never be a matter of luck or privilege—it is a fundamental human right.