Teaching English to young people as a crucial step for their career development and overall success in a globalized world.

António Victorino has over five years’ experience in the field of education. He works as an English teacher at the Instituto Técnico de Saúde Sol Nascente and Rei David. He is also the Executive Director of Woman in the Front Line, a nonprofit organization that offers free English Language training and Environmental Education to women in Huambo, Angola. In addition, António serves as the Deputy Coordinator for Staff Training at the Provincial Delegation of the Youth Brigade for Literature of Angola in Huambo.

António says the YALI programme awakened a renewed sense of purpose and commitment in him to his work. “Women in the Front Line is an initiative we use for peer learning and experience sharing among young people in Angola. We provide spaces where young people share their experience while highlighting career advancing opportunities that the English language could give to young people seeking to advance their careers and work,” highlights Antonio.

Portuguese is the official and most spoken language in Angola, and many young people who are not proficient in English, face monumental challenges when interacting and engaging with international audiences where English is the language of communication. Combining his expert knowledge as a Language teacher with his YALI training, Antonio was able to develop interventions to solve this problem, starting with his community in Huambo.

Motivated by the positive experiences, inspiration and continuous engagement with the YALI Network, António continues to undertake online courses to develop himself. As a result, António assumed the role of Executive Director for Woman in the Front Line where he is responsible for implementing projects focused on teaching English, promoting environmental awareness among women in Huambo and advocating for gender equality and equal rights.

António’s commitment extends beyond Woman in the Front Line. He now serves as the Deputy Coordinator for Staff Training at the Provincial Delegation of the Youth Brigade for Literature of Angola in Huambo.

“In my new role, I will focus on developing interventions that address a myriad of problems faced by young people in my community. We plan to integrate English language training into the national curriculum and we are in talks with government representatives on modalities of having this pilot project tested in some schools in our community,” says Antonio.