In-between bachelor’s and the following master’s studies at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Anna Ambrozková took a break for a year to go to Africa. But she has not come full circle doing this. During the 11 months spent working as a volunteer in Angola this student of mathematical engineering discovered that she could not simply close down this chapter of her life and in the next summer holidays she is setting off for the dark continent again. Anna is not used to walking the straightforward path; she tends to opt for more demanding solutions. Her route to the teaching that she will probably pursue after school was done with a detour via the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering so that it would be well earned – as she puts it. And it was similar with Angola – she yearned to travel to Africa from her childhood, but not as a tourist – she wanted to stay and learn to understand the local culture and meaning of life.
Photo: archive of BUT
Why Angola?
I wanted to go somewhere in the centre of the continent, in the poverty-stricken part of Africa, but otherwise I did not care. I arranged my stay through the Salesians who send volunteers to countries with the most friendly communities, and when Angola came up, I picked it up although as a former Portuguese colony they speak Portuguese and that was a foreign language to me. I spent the first three months in Luena which is the capital of the Moxico province and despite a population of 200 thousand it is referred to as the remote back country. I was the only Czech in the community centre so I was forced to speak Portuguese all the time and as a result I learned quite quickly.
Did you know what your work would involve?
I had bits and pieces of information from Salesian volunteers around the world who mainly worked as teachers at primary schools and in their free time tried to entertain the children and taught them to play various instruments. In Luena, immediately after my arrival they found out that I could play the piano and I was told that in two days I would start to teach 15-year old children to play. I didn't know the language or the local situation, the kids started from square one, in addition, almost none of them had a piano at home, so it was not easy. Over time after I learned the language, I began to give extra classes in mathematics, physics and a little bit of English, later I opened an evening course of English and taught additional piano courses.
Did you also work with children from the street?
That was when I moved to the capital Luanda. The population is 6 million and the Salesian State School is much bigger – around 4 thousand students attend it daily. I had already known the language so I taught mathematics, English and music and I also started to commute to a centre for boys from the street. In Angolan cities there are lots of children on the street and the Salesians establish centres for them where they put boys from the street, attempt to introduce some regular schedule into their life, send them to school or let them learn a trade. Even so, occasionally a boy might flee – I experienced that myself. It is the work of Salesian men so they only take care of boys, although there are also girls on the street who often support themselves by prostitution.
Why did you move to Luanda?
It was actually due to a misunderstanding – poor communication. At first I did not know what I was allowed to do and what not – nobody explained it to me. I went out alone with an Angolan friend and that’s intolerable for the locals. Today I understand. Local men often deny their partners and children and when a female volunteer appears who has no idea and they go out together the repercussions may be dangerous. I had to leave as a result, which was hard for me, and I cried about it, but thanks to that I got to know Luanda, which I keep in my memories. Especially the centre for boys from the street remains in my heart.
Photo: archive of BUT
The street children are orphans?
Not just orphans, they may be children who fled from their home or the parents themselves got rid of them. They do not have decent living conditions and lack in motherly care and love, not like over here. An Angolan family does not have as much significance and depth as our families – they do not share experiences that would bond them together. A mother will tie the child to her back so that she could go out and make money, and the child will spend most of the day like that. It is not exceptional that young parents will give their children to their own parents to bring them up.
How do the Angolans perceive the work of the Salesians?
Being with the Salesians or being on good terms with them means an awful lot in Angola. The locals are aware of what the Salesians do for them so if you have a problem and say that you are with the Salesians it opens up the doors.
One often hears that sending help to Africa is like a drop in the sea.
Sending money and things is great, but sending people there is even better – either volunteers like I was or international companies that teach the locals how to farm and be self-sufficient in agriculture. Angola is a green country with plenty of water and when they succeed in clearing fields of mines after the civil war, they could excel in farming. Tourism also has great potential but the locals still don't know how to take advantage of that. The People In Need organisation sends voice messages to young mothers describing how to maintain the hygiene of the new-born, they send trainers of midwives to remote villages … and this kind of help certainly makes sense.
What have you learnt in Angola?
If I had not been a patriot by that time, then I am one after my return, that’s for sure. Before, I thought that I could marry a foreigner and live abroad, after Angola I know that I want to stay here. I realise the opportunities we have and how everything works, as nothing works over there. Angolans live for the present. They do not have a vision of a career, they do not think what is going to happen tomorrow, but they are happy, much more than we are. When they have a birthday, regardless of the number of years, they congratulate themselves for completing another year of life.
Why are you returning to Angola?
I made many friendships with volunteers and Angolans, we are in contact and they ask me whether I will return. I want to help again but mainly I want to see those people. I have a feeling that it's not a closed case for my part, there are so many emotions. I hope that after my second visit it will be easier to say goodbye to Angola …