2. A challenge in Africa
Expectation found
Baoba tree
International career
International career: a dream! An international Project has always been my dream and one
of the biggest goals in my career.
I was working for 5 years in a multinational mining company
when I received the invitation to join the ARCADIS team in
Mozambique.
I accepted the invitation because ARCADIS is a big consultant
corporation and is well positioned in the international
consulting market.
In addition, I decided to work in the African continent because
it is a big challenge and Africa can be a new market for
ARCADIS.
I am graduated in Business Administration and I work in
Quality Management. My challenge was to structure the
Quality scope of our contract.
Before traveling to Mozambique I had complete information
related to political instability, violence and diseases that I
could face.
All these information were not confirmed after a few weeks in
Nacala Project.
I found a beautiful country with friendly people and, if you
compare some Brazilian indexes of violence, probably Nacala’s
indexes are much smaller. So, comparing Brazilian and African
conditions, the challenge is similar!
3. The Project consists of the construction of a Coal Port
Terminal with capacity for 18 Mtpy (Million tones per year),
with the possibility of future expansion to 26 Mtpy.
The implementation of a port for deep draft ships is an
integral part of a Program Expansion of Vale Mozambique
Moatize SA.
The Project is Nampula district located in the town of
Nacala, northern Mozambique.
ARCADIS Logos was contracted by “Vale Mozambique
Moatize SA” to management the implementation of this
Project.
I was part of the Project Management Team, with
approximately 120 people, composed by a Consortium,
including the companies: ARCADIS Logos (Brazil), Consulgal
(Portugal) and SECON (Mozambique).
Map of Mozambique
Project location
Our Contract and Vale Project
A challenge in Africa
4. Local life: local language
The official language of Mozambique is Portuguese, but the
Mozambican people speak more than 15 dialects. The local
language in Nacala is “Emakhuwa”.
Although I believe that learning the local language is very
interesting and an exercise of cultural integration, I had no
opportunity to learn it.
In addition, the spoken Mozambican Portuguese is a little
different from the Brazilian Portuguese. So, we need to be
careful with some words that have a completely different
meaning and may get us in embarrassing situations.
I confess that I did not really struggled to learn the Emakhuwa.
The Mozambicans find funny when foreigners want to learn their
language and they like to help.
Development Social team reunited
with the local people
Local civilization
A challenge in Africa
5. A challenge in Africa
The Nacala region is very poor. The minimum salary is USD 100 per
month and this money is not enough for a family of 5 people. For
example: a family needs 4 gallons with 20 liters of water per day for all
household chores (drinking, cooking, washing). The amount spent per
day with water is USD 2.5 and, considering 30 days, you can conclude
that almost no money is left to buy food.
The region has a very large hydric deficit even for local and foreign
people, and the sanitary conditions are very poor.
The options to buy food are very limited, most products are of low
quality and do not follow the minimum standards of hygiene.
So, in the local context, the people working to our Project are
considered rich people.
Local people carrying water
Local market Local house
Local life
6. A challenge in Africa
Another point that is worth to remark, concerning to health
requirements, specially to foreigners coming to the country, is the
prevention with the "Malaria".
For the local population, malaria is already a "common" aspect.
We can say that malaria is part of the coexisting environment,
since it is the second largest health topic reported after HIV / AIDS.
Sharing the same house with colleagues, I had the opportunity to
mingle with people of different nationalities. Among them, I
highlight a co-worker, whose nationality is also Brazilian. She had
contracted malaria 3 times, so I can consider myself lucky girl for
having contracted malaria only 1 single time.
Among other cases, survive at this site is not very easy.
There are few leisure options in Nacala for local and foreign
people. What is usually done in this context is meeting with
friends, go to the beaches and organize small parties.
Local house: the kitchen
Local beach
Local life
7. A challenge in Africa
Interact and engage with people having different original ideas
was very rewarding.
Among them, I had the opportunity to interact with one of the
colleagues who will participate in the Global Shapers on
October 2013, Angelo Zerbini, having also collaborated in the
development of his idea for the contest.
Very good!
Angelo Zerbini and I: talking
about Global Shapers
Inspection work onHappy hour to integrate all team
Local life
8. A challenge in Africa
My perspective of permanence in Mozambique would be for 3
years - the total duration of the Project. Due to some
uncertainties I had to interrupt my stay and remained just for 1
year.
There are religions having food taboos, such as: pork - forbidden
for Muslims.
The Indian influence is also very strong on menus in Mozambique
and such food is a challenge to be faced. The hygiene of the food
is not a strong point in the region, thus the cases of cholera and
diarrhea are sprawling in the communities.
Food was my biggest challenge. I learned that dealing with some
kinds of food was not easy, specially when I discovered that I
suffer of "lactose intolerance“.
Foreigners in Mozambique travel a lot.
The natural beauties are big news, the former Portuguese colony
mixes with the beaches and the wildlife.
Mozambique is a paradise. A fantastic country where vast diverse
landscape offers endless options for destinations where you can
combine sun, beach, nature, adventure, exoticism and more.
Local beach
Local Child
Natural Beauties
Cultural differences and adaptation
9. With a tropical climate, temperatures are an invitation to enjoy
the quiet beaches. But also characterized Mozambique the islands
with their unique character and shrouded in mystery.
It has archipelagos that offers a unique spectacle of dunes on a
sea that varies between the turquoise and emerald green.
Culturally, Mozambique has always made a pole marked in Africa
in terms of architecture, painting, music, literature and poetry,
without forgetting the craftsmanship that delights lovers of
African art.
Overcoming homesickness and cultural differences was
undoubtedly challenging in my life.
Learning another language, gain the experience of another
culture, meet new people and landscapes and still be able to
enhance my professional career, this has been my most
satisfying and worth living.
I can only thank ARCADIS Logos for the invitation and
opportunity offered.
I would do it all again in a different conditions!
A challenge in Africa
Learning
Local beach
Local landscape
Natural Beauties
