Aida André – Resilience, Overcoming, and Transformation

Mozambique faces deep social challenges, marked by high levels of poverty and limited access to social protection and employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas and among women and youth. It is estimated that around 63% of the population lives below the poverty line, in a context further aggravated by structural vulnerabilities and low coverage of formal social protection systems. Currently, social protection programmes reach only about 7.3% of the workforce, highlighting the need to strengthen public policies and institutional responses.

Meet Aida André

Coming from a humble family with five sisters, Aida faced significant hardships from an early age. In 2006, while she was in primary school, her father passed away. The situation worsened two years later when she also lost her mother, who was unemployed and ill. Orphaned and without financial support, Aida and her sisters were taken in by orphanages in Niassa Province.

Years later, a Portuguese family supporting the orphanage learned about her story and decided to fund her education. This act of solidarity enabled her to continue her studies and graduate with a degree in Public Administration from the Catholic University of Mozambique (UCM).

In 2017, Aida joined JFS-RESET as an IT Assistant, facing the challenge of working outside her original field of study. She later transitioned to the Technical Production Department, where she supported communication between the company and farmers through the call centre.

“This company has become my second home. JFS-RESET completely transformed my life, and today I am able to support myself independently.”

Professional Growth and Overcoming Challenges

In her role, Aida faced significant challenges, particularly in managing the information system used to send reports to farmers, managers, and engineers. Initially, frequent errors led to constructive feedback and required a high level of adaptability and learning.

Through persistence, dedication, and continuous development of technical skills, she was able to overcome these initial difficulties. Her commitment was instrumental to the success of the integrated cotton seed procurement campaign in 2023/2024 — a key milestone in her professional journey.

Impact and Significance

Aida André’s story demonstrates how access to education, combined with structured employment opportunities and a supportive organizational environment, can break cycles of vulnerability. It also highlights the transformative role that socially responsible companies can play in promoting economic inclusion and human development.

In a country where millions still face significant barriers to social mobility, stories like Aida’s reaffirm that investing in people is investing in the future.