I am back in Mozambique. The days leading up to the trip are always heavier than usual, filled with that familiar attempt to “get everything done” and “have everything ready.” We all know that everything will never be done, and nothing will ever be fully ready. But as I land in Maputo and enjoy that slow waiting time between immigration and luggage, I start to slow down—and truly arrive in what feels like my second home.
The Trip
Today, the trip felt longer than usual. The plane was delayed, I slept little, the airport took forever, and even the drive seemed slower. Step by step, I accepted the universe’s gentle nudge to bring me into a more present rhythm, easing me into the magnitude of what each 10-day trip to Mozambique means.
I fought sleep and stayed alert—to the changing road, the “chapas” (small buses) that never change, the roadside vendors, and the people who cross the street without a glance at the traffic. Between moments of quiet contemplation and bursts of intense typing on my phone, I began to make space for the ideas that inevitably surface when I slow down. I can already see the bridge. Xai-Xai is in sight. The first stop is near.
The Joy
We don’t always remember to feel joy. Coming to Mozambique reminds me of joy—the joy in people’s faces, the joy of children who have so little. But today, it was the joy of our team that struck me most—the warmth of colleagues welcoming me back. One by one, I embraced each of the incredible field officers who, every day, make a difference in the lives of our children. To the sound of a song that unintentionally became our anthem, I dance, hug, and give thanks:
“Um Pequeno Gesto, ajuda o teu irmão, nós vamos fazer acontecer!”
(“A Little Gesture, help your brother, we’re going to make it happen!”)
It’s contagious. I no longer have to remind myself to celebrate. Here, that’s the spirit of the week. Of course, we work hard too, but everything starts from a place of joy and gratitude. There are hugs, small gifts exchanged, and Mamá Elisa smiling: “Welcome home, to your second home!”
The Celebration
I must admit—I’m always the one telling them not to celebrate too much – especially me. I don’t see myself as a celebrity, and I’m usually eager to get to work. But over time, especially with this solid team we’ve built over the past few years, I’ve learned the importance of celebrating. Celebrating that we are a team. Celebrating the work we do, the daily dedication, the successes we achieve. It’s particularly important for those of us who are at HQ and further from the ground. It’s easy to lose ourselves in Excel sheets, sponsor emails, and donor reports. Because it is all too easy to focus on incomplete field reports, swapped names on lists or children without weight metrics. With this we forget what is done —the activities, the smiling faces, the children who are happier and healthier (weighed or not).
Honestly, I don’t think I could go on much longer without a pause like this. The last quarter of the year is heavy at headquarters, and it’s easy to lose sight of how well the work is actually going.
So here’s to this wonderful team—congratulations to you all.
The Work
After celebrating comes work. I try to realign new and long-standing team members around the five pillars that guide our actions—defined more clearly over the past two years: feed, educate, balance, accelerate, empower.
Through this lens, we discuss our activities—where we’re delivering, where we’re falling short. We talk about input metrics (activities) and output metrics (impact), and why both matter. They matter to donors, yes—but also to all of us, to understand if we’re truly changing lives. We are ready to go deeper.
The Deep Dive
With calm and remarkable dedication (especially considering it was 5 p.m. and no one had eaten lunch yet), each field officer discussed their project: the challenges with weighing and sample representation in the Feeding Program; the concern over school grades and missing report cards for Sponsored children; the literacy and numeracy plans in After-school programs; the positive ripple effect of Project Mbalélé Mbalélé in Preschools and overall team training. Each problem was seen as a challenge—and discussed with thought and care. The resilience shown today was a true reflection of this team’s spirit.
No Goodbyes
It felt good to start the trip this way—without having to say goodbye right away.
Sometimes I only spend a day in one project—a quick hello and goodbye.
But this time, beginning all together means I can say “see you soon” instead.
From our office, we’ll now head out to each project, to go deeper in our work—and of course, to celebrate with the children. See you soon!