Olinda Mabunda

Olinda Mabunda, a Mozambican native fluent in English, Changana, and Portuguese, pursued her education at Christian Academy in Mozambique before enrolling at Messiah University, Pennsylvania, United States. There, she pursued a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies while minoring in Education and Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL). During her studies, she also served as an office and Teacher's Assistant in the Peace and Conflict Studies department.

Olinda holds certification as a Human Rights Consultant and served as the Human Rights Awareness Director at Messiah University. In this capacity, she fostered vital partnerships with community organizations, professors, and stakeholders to advocate for human rights and social justice.

In 2022, Olinda worked in the United States as a Neighborhood Revitalization Coordinator at Tri-County Community Action. Her role involved identifying areas for community revitalization, actively engaging with residents, business owners, and stakeholders to address their concerns. She developed a comprehensive revitalization plan encompassing economic development, housing improvement, public safety, and transportation, collaborating with local government and nonprofits to secure resources.

Olinda also continued her involvement in peace and conflict resolution, working as a Legal Assistant at the Instituto do Patrocínio e Assistência Jurídica (IPAJ) in Mozambique. In this role, she analysed and led mediation sessions for various conflict cases, including work, civil, and criminal matters. Her dedication extended to providing legal and judicial assistance to citizens and organizing workshops in underserved communities, contributing to human rights awareness and sustainable peacebuilding in Mozambique. She is currently pursuing her MSc in Global Leadership and Peacebuilding at King’s College and is an Associate Fellow with the African Leadership Centre.