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O País / Clarisse Machanguana
Queen Elizabeth II of England has named Clarisse Machanguana the 13th Commonwealth Point of Light in honour of her exceptional voluntary work establishing and running the Clarisse Machanguana Foundation for youth empowerment.
In the lead-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in London on 19-20 April, Her Majesty the Queen, as Head of the Commonwealth, is thanking inspirational volunteers across the 53 Commonwealth nations for the difference they are making in their communities and beyond.
By sharing these stories of service, the Heads of Government meeting will celebrate inspirational acts of volunteering across the Commonwealth and help inspire others to make their own contribution to tackling some of the greatest social challenges of our time.
After a 22 year-career that saw her become Mozambique’s most successful basketball player, including playing four seasons in the ‘WBNA’ in the USA, Clarisse Machanguana set up her own foundation to empower the youth of her native Mozambique.
Founded in 2014, the Clarisse Machanguana Foundation targets three primary areas: health, education and sport, and leads a nationwide HIV initiative focused on increasing the number of children on anti-retroviral treatment.
The core of the campaign is destigmatising HIV so that children on treatment live longer and healthier lives. The online reach and support base encompasses 700,000 users, and 135,000 school pupils were involved throughout the campaign.
Each Commonwealth Point of Light will receive a personalised certificate signed by Her Majesty the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth. The award for Clarisse Machanguana will be presented on 19 February at the British Residence in Maputo in the course of a Commonwealth reception hosted by British High Commissioner Joanna Kuenssberg.
“This award is a great encouragement to myself and our team at the Foundation, and gives us inspiration to forge ahead and create change with our young people. I am grateful for the opportunities our youth will have from this recognition as a Commonwealth Point of Light from Her Majesty the Queen,” Clarisse Machanguana said about the award.
“I played basketball for 30 years, but now my most important basket is the one I make for Mozambican youth. This is a bigger challenge than anything I faced before, but I know I can make a positive impact on their lives, motivating them to build their self-esteem and the confidence to create change.
“While it is a real honour that our teamwork is being recognized, the biggest reward is to see a girl being inspired by my challenging path and by the empowering activities we implement throughout Mozambique, bringing hope and courage to many young people here.”
UK High Commissioner to Mozambique Joanna Kuenssberg said: “This award acknowledges the inspiring work Clarisse does, particularly encouraging young girls to realise their potential. The Commonwealth is home to one third of the world’s population, 60 percent of whom are the young on which the future of the Commonwealth depends. Clarisse’s focus on sports to tackle HIV/Aids stigma amongst young people is an important way of contributing to a future of hope in our great Commonwealth family. Clarisse is an inspiring Mozambican. Mozambique and the Commonwealth need more people like her.“
“This recognition does not belong to me, but to the people who are behind my strength and the youth for whom and with whom we work everyday” – #PointofLight Clarrisse Machanguana from #Mozambique on receiving the award today. @Commonwealth18 @HCJKuenssberg @FCMUEM @RoyalFamily pic.twitter.com/iIgBnuLX8e
— UK in Mozambique (@UKinMozambique) February 19, 2018
Parabéns a nossa embaixadora Clarisse Machanguana por ter recebido o #PointOfLight da Commonwealth em Moçambique.
Um reconhecimento merecido por Sua Majestade a Rainha Elizabeth II, pelo trabalho que realiza na luta contra o #HIV #SIDA e estigmatização. pic.twitter.com/7cc0sr1vfA
— UNICEF Moçambique (@UNICEF_Moz) February 19, 2018
About the Commonwealth Point of Light Award
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