{"id":1431,"date":"2024-07-26T14:29:48","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T14:29:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gracamacheltrust.org\/office-of-the-founder\/?page_id=1431"},"modified":"2026-03-05T16:28:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T16:28:25","slug":"about-graca-machel","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gracamacheltrust.org\/office-of-the-founder\/index.php\/about-graca-machel\/","title":{"rendered":"About Her Excellency Gra\u00e7a Machel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gra\u00e7a Machel is not simply a figure in history\u2014she is a living force for justice, dignity, and liberation. Her life is a testament to what one woman can become when she dares to confront systemic injustice and chooses to build futures where women and children thrive. Born into a colonial era and forged in the fires of Mozambique\u2019s liberation, her voice has become one of Africa\u2019s most resolute instruments for change.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Read more<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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As Founder of the Gra\u00e7a Machel Trust and of the Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para o Desenvolvimento da Comunidade (FDC), and as co-founder of The Elders, she has created institutions that echo her fierce conviction: that no child should go hungry, that every woman must have a seat at the table, and that peace without justice is no peace at all.<\/p>\n

Her voice is both conscience and compass for the world \u2014 offering wisdom, courage, and an unwavering commitment to those most often forgotten.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Gra\u00e7a Machel is not simply a figure in history\u2014she is a living force for justice, dignity, and liberation. Her life is a testament to what one woman can become when she dares to confront systemic injustice and chooses to build futures where women and children thrive. Born into a colonial era and forged in the fires of Mozambique\u2019s liberation, her voice has become one of Africa\u2019s most resolute instruments for change.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Read more<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
\n

As Founder of the Gra\u00e7a Machel Trust and of the Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para o Desenvolvimento da Comunidade (FDC), and as co-founder of The Elders, she has created institutions that echo her fierce conviction: that no child should go hungry, that every woman must have a seat at the table, and that peace without justice is no peace at all.<\/p>\n

Her voice is both conscience and compass for the world \u2014 offering wisdom, courage, and an unwavering commitment to those most often forgotten.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

A Lifetime of impact<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

A Lifetime of impact<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Born –<\/h4><\/div>

Incadine, Gaza Province, Mozambique<\/h3><\/div>

Guidione Simbine, Gra\u00e7a\u2019s father passes away 1 month before her birth. Guidione\u2019s wish was for all his children to receive an education.<\/p>\n

Daughter of rural Mozambique, Gra\u00e7a is born the last of 9 children. Her roots shaped her deep connection to community and justice.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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1945<\/div><\/span>
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Born –<\/h4><\/div>

Incadine, Gaza Province, Mozambique<\/h3><\/div>

Guidione Simbine, Gra\u00e7a\u2019s father passes away 1 month before her birth. Guidione\u2019s wish was for all his children to receive an education.<\/p>\n

Daughter of rural Mozambique, Gra\u00e7a is born the last of 9 children. Her roots shaped her deep connection to community and justice.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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1945<\/div><\/span>
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Education<\/h3><\/div>

Gra\u00e7a emerges as a bright child and receives scholarships to study in Louren\u00e7o Marques (Maputo) and eventually the University of Lisbon in Portugal.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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1952-1971<\/div><\/span>
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Education<\/h3><\/div>

Gra\u00e7a emerges as a bright child and receives scholarships to study in Louren\u00e7o Marques (Maputo) and eventually the University of Lisbon in Portugal.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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1952-1971<\/div><\/span>
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Getting involved in politics<\/h3><\/div>

Gra\u00e7a joins the clandestine movement against Portuguese colonial rule.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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1971<\/div><\/span>
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Getting involved in politics<\/h3><\/div>

Gra\u00e7a joins the clandestine movement against Portuguese colonial rule.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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1971<\/div><\/span>
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FRELIMO<\/h3><\/div>

Gra\u00e7a runs away from Lisbon to join Liberation Front of Mozambique (FRELIMO) and trains at Nachingwea camp in Tanzania. She was later deployed to various military camps across Mozambique as a teacher for FRELIMO.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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1973<\/div><\/span>
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FRELIMO<\/h3><\/div>

Gra\u00e7a runs away from Lisbon to join Liberation Front of Mozambique (FRELIMO) and trains at Nachingwea camp in Tanzania.\u00a0She was later deployed to various military camps across Mozambique as a teacher for FRELIMO.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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1973<\/div><\/span>
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Transitional government<\/h3><\/div>

Negotiations between Mo\u00e7ambique and Portugal commence and Gra\u00e7a Machel joins the transitional government. She is appointed Secretary of Education from September 1974 \u2013 June 1975 (9 months of transitional government)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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1974<\/div><\/span>
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Transitional government<\/h3><\/div>

Negotiations between Mo\u00e7ambique and Portugal commence and Gra\u00e7a Machel joins the transitional government. She is appointed Secretary of Education from September 1974 \u2013 June 1975 (9 months of transitional government)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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1974<\/div><\/span>
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Mozambique independence and marriage<\/h3><\/div>