Abdul Macangira, a UN Volunteer with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Pemba Office, recounts his life as a displaced person ¨C fleeing his home, struggling to get a much-desired education, and instances of discrimination and violence -- and what it means to him to be part of OCHA, serving the same communities he was a part of.
I was born in Cabo Delgado, Quissanga, in 1985, amidst the turmoil of civil war ¨C 30 long years of a brutal conflict that left over a million people dead and hundreds of thousands displaced.
And in a tragic turn of events, I lost my father just a year later, which left my mom raising us in impossible conditions.
In 1986, armed men attacked and decimated my community of Namacula, forcing my family to flee multiple times within the same district due to relentless assaults. As living conditions in the displacement site were unbearable, before the war ended, we returned to our home community.
We knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy, as violence was still raging. What we didn¡¯t know is that we¡¯d be find a hostile, discriminatory environment, especially strong among other ethnic groups.
This is what civil war does to a country ¨C it puts people against each other, it creates tensions, competitions, and such profound divisions.
Our village was attacked again, forcing us to seek refuge in a relatively safer coastal community called Dique. That is where my mom remarried a local fisherman, and we finally found a semblance of peace until the war officially ended in 1993.
The turning point for me came around 2007, when I was able to resume secondary school in Pemba. I managed to keep my grades high and that¡¯s how in 2009, I secured a scholarship to finally pursue my bachelor's in international relations in Maputo.
Between 2021 and 2023, my dream came true thanks to the Japanese JIKA scholarship programme. I could complete my studies with a master¡¯s in social development in Japan.
Reflecting on who I am today
I was just a child, yet hardship is one of my strongest memories of those years. No child should ever go through this. But it is true when they say that it is through hardship that you find your purpose in life.
What I lived through inspired me to dedicate my life to helping others, to make a positive impact in as many lives as possible.
Living through protracted displacement, discrimination, and sacrifice fueled my determination to be where I am today, to help others.
And this is what has profoundly shaped my approach to my work ¡ª with empathy, resilience, and a unique ability to build trust among the people and the communities I serve.
My dream today? To serve as many people as possible and transition from being a UN Volunteer to becoming staff and continue to advocate for and support those whose voices are often unheard.
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