The greatest contribution one can make to this world is to know that one’s life has had a positive impact on others and has served as an inspiration and motivation for them to reach new heights.
Times dictate our desires.
In 1975, Cape Verde was a young country, scarred by a history of famine and deaths caused by shortages. Its inspiration for democracy came from other countries. The chances of this archipelago becoming one of the most stable democracies on the African continent were extremely slim. It would indeed have been unbelievable, at that time, to imagine the reality we experience today as a country.
The generation that emerged from that era served as a true benchmark which still endures today and has shaped subsequent models.
It is in this generation that we find pioneering women in a wide variety of fields, including the struggle for liberation. These were the most difficult times; local opportunities were limited, but they were bolstered by the remarkable diplomatic skills that Cape Verde began to develop back then and which endure to this day.
We must continue to shape the future and, in doing so, recognise that, amidst the rapid pace of change we are currently experiencing, there will be many occasions when we will have to continue to advocate for women’s participation, because where women are not present, they cannot be seen, considered or included.
Where we have no role models, we will have to blaze a trail, but always drawing inspiration from other female role models, even if they are in different fields.
Our national team’s achievements at the FIFA World Cup prove that being small is no guarantee of failure. Every Cape Verdean has the chance to change their destiny for the better.
It is these examples that we want to share with the young girls who will be competing in the Cape Verde Favelas Cup on 4 July. For yet another year, CUFA Cape Verde is investing in the organisation of a community festival, the Kumunidadi Fest, which this year is being run by young people from the community and a group of young people from Portugal who wanted to get involved in this project, which aims to place the power of transformation in the hands of young people.
But when we talk about young people, we are talking about the importance of introducing them to positive role models in society who can spark their curiosity about the future.
That is why, when discussing the Taça das Favelas, we needed to draw on examples that could inspire our players, using sport as a tool for bringing about change in other areas such as science, digital technology, sustainability, finance, human rights and so many others.
That is also why I never tire of thanking the 20 mentors from the Taça das Favelas and the EmpowerHer Cabo Verde programme who volunteered their time, devote their time to sharing their stories and, in particular, what led them to believe that being a pioneer in a particular field or thinking differently was something that needed to be done – not just for their own sake, but to pave the way for those who will follow.
Our aim with this project is for these young people to take firm steps towards their future, knowing – from their experience of taking part in the Taça das Favelas – that dreams are the primary motivation for any great achievement that, at first glance, seems impossible to attain. After all, this has been Cape Verde’s lesson to the world: the only thing that is impossible is what we have not yet tried.
The main aim is to prepare these young people to take on active roles in transforming their communities, equipping them with the tools to act independently, thoughtfully and collaboratively.
