My working career in images

An illustrative time past, over which I will spend some time reminiscing and writing.

Teacher: the most noble and least recognized of the professions. Spiritually, socially and emotionally fulfilling, but keeps you as poor as a church mouse, if you've seen one. In retirement, I still meet other Mozambicans that recognize me as having been their teacher. At heart, I still remain a teacher.

Diplomat: an experience that gave me an opening to the world, a better appreciation and acceptance of other cultures, and ways of doing things. I learned to live with and appreciate differences. I came to understand that a diplomat is a refined government officer. During my time, I experienced the most exciting exposure to other cultures, I participated in one Anti-Apartheid Conference in Paris. I also lost colleagues in the air accident that killed President Samora Machel. It is a whole chapter.

International Civil Servant with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: the longest employ. And raising through the ranks (National Officer, Professional levels P1; P 2; P3; P4; P5, and D(Director) 1. Best employment that afforded me the opportunity to visit and work in as many as 21 countries. This gave me an understanding of the international system architecture and interests, the fallacy of the expression "International Community", and worked with some of the victims of this system, in the category of refugees, and internally displaced populations. And came to better understand the place of our Continent in this maelstrom.

Sunset years with UNHCR: this is a point at which I came to best understand that I was fighting for the dignity of refugees as human beings. Seeing refugees who spent more than 25 years in a closely-controlled camp resembles the warehousing of human capacities that could otherwise be utilized, not just to eliminate humanitarian debilitating assistance, but also to contribute to the economy of the local host municipalities. I retired, and I have no regrets.