A story about a Mozambican Pride — Lionesses of Africa

by Mayra Pereira

My name is Mayra Pereira and I am a Lioness since September 2019. I keep going back to the date I was preparing my presentation for the Lioness Lean In event in Maputo. For so long, I kept pushing out the date because I was afraid of public speaking, and still very hormonal from having my little Mia, just 4 four months before. 

This seems very cliché now, but the day I did the presentation, I knew my life was going to change. I asked my mother and my colleagues from work to be present since I wanted them to hear about my journey, and also to have people I trusted amongst the crowd that would be present. Once I arrived at the venue, I immediately recognized a familiar face, Patricia Bettencourt. At the time, she presented her work at the Girl Move Academy. I then met Olga Madede, the founder of an in-home care nursing services business. Powerful women with powerful stories. I can´t recall if my presentation was before or after, but I kept thinking about how I could inspire women and girls with my story. I remember thinking at the end of my presentation that although my journey was somehow interesting and funny, I could do more to create change.

It took me 7 months to write my story on the Lionesses of Africa portal. By then, I had set up a new company in Mozambique called Gaia and I was pursuing my dream: to create change, and support the ecosystem in Mozambique in the transition to a sustainable future. Be the change that you wish to see in the world – Mahatma Gandhi – I wrote almost at the end. This is definitely my drive for being an entrepreneur. 

Little did I know, my path with Patricia and Olga would cross more often than expected. Right after my presentation, Patricia called me and I immediately jumped in to support Girl Move Academy. I did a talk on the Sustainable Development Goals and then became a mentor to one of the girls. Working with the academy and getting to know the girls really changed my perception of the world. Being close to Patricia made me realize that all we need to create change is ourselves. For me, Patricia is this force of nature that can move mountains for the things she stands for and believes in. Inspired by her, I took under my wing one of the most inspiring girl movers, who was always interested in renewable energy, but had not gotten the opportunity to enter the sector. Patricia has not only been an inspiration on the journey to be a better professional, but has over the past few months been a strong support to my family. 

It was August 2021 and a family member became extremely sick. After a few calls I got the phone number of someone called Dra Olga. I remember the phone ringing and I heard this familiar voice on the phone. I asked if this was the Olga I met at the Lionesses event and whom I shared the stage with. She remembered me and I believe she could hear I was in distress. She immediately gave me all the contacts and ways that I could get the support of her company. Her team was nothing but amazing. Of course with home care, there are always bits and pieces that come together after some time, but the her team supported our family through the most difficult moments. My family member passed away this November and we will always be grateful to the support that Olga and her team gave us over the past months. 

I believe in the power of networks and I am proud to be a Lioness. I will always be grateful to the team in Maputo who pushed me to do the presentation in front of hundreds of women. But beyond that, to get to know other lionesses who are creating real change and impacting the lives of people in Mozambique. We are so often focused on the little things that we end up forgetting that real impact is created by the Patricia´s and Olga´s of the world. This is the importance of connecting and empowering women. Besides my (and Gaia´s) journey to help businesses, cooperation partners, governments and civil society in Mozambique and Sub-Saharan countries in the development and implementation of sustainable solutions as well as in the transition to a sustainable low-carbon future, I believe more and more in the power of advancing the concept of women as agents of change.