Research
From classrooms to policy: building pathways for inclusion in Mozambique and the Global South
🔍 Research Interests
My research is grounded in equity and inclusion, with a focus on education systems, policy, and leadership.
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📚 Inclusive Education – advancing access and equity for learners with disabilities.
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🏫 Disability Units in Schools – examining their role and effectiveness in inclusive systems.
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👩🏾🏫 Teacher Training – preparing educators to respond to cultural, linguistic, and ability diversity.
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📜 Education Policy – analyzing how policies shape opportunities and outcomes for learners.
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🌱 Youth Leadership – fostering agency and participation among young people.
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🌍 Leadership – developing inclusive leadership at school, community, and policy levels.
🌍 Study Context
2.6% — of children in Mozambique are reported to have a disability
<1% — of primary school students are identified as having disabilities
This gap suggests that many children with disabilities remain excluded from education, especially in the early years ( UNICEF, Mozambique, n.d.)My research addresses this exclusion by exploring strategies to strengthen inclusive early childhood education and inform policy change in Mozambique and beyond.
🔍 Research Focus
My research focuses on fostering inclusive practices and exploring the transformative role of education in driving community-led change. I have contributed to publications and shared my work at conferences, always aiming to connect scholarship with practical impact, particularly in Mozambique and the Global South.
🔍 Research Mission:
Developing strategies to reduce educational inequalities in Mozambique and contribute to global inclusion
I study the inclusion of children with disabilities in Mozambique’s early childhood education system, drawing contextual insights from the United States and other countries across the Global South and North.
My mission is to develop practical strategies and resources that reduce educational inequalities in Mozambique while contributing to global conversations on equity and inclusion.
While I recognize that this is an ongoing journey of learning and collaboration, I remain committed to ensuring that my research not only contributes to scholarship but also amplifies community voices and informs more just and inclusive policies, especially from early childhood onward.
🔍 Research Methods
Using a qualitative, multi-method approach, my research combines diverse perspectives and lived experience to understand how inclusion can be strengthened in early childhood education. I will:
📄 Conduct stakeholder interviews with educators, leaders, policymakers, and advocacy organizations.
📚 Analyze education policies, strategies, and guidelines to understand how inclusion is addressed at the systemic level.
✍🏾 Draw on auto ethnographic reflection from my leadership experience in two provinces, where I witnessed the lack of inclusive practices and the urgent need for change.
📢 Beyond Research
Beyond my academic work, I am engaged in advocacy, teaching, and creative initiatives that expand inclusion outside traditional research. This includes hosting educational podcasts, building youth leadership, and promoting disability rights through media and community partnerships.
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Creator, Inclusive Voices in Action – Podcast & YouTube platform promoting disability rights, leadership, and education.
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Contributor, Jornal Notícias & Masoko – Writing to influence policy and public opinion on inclusion and equity.
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🎥 Host of Conversations on Sissi’s Channel – youtube.com/@conversasnocantinhodasissi5049
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Catechist & Community Service – Engaging with emergent bilingual students and observing the language barriers that shape inclusion.
📩 Let’s Connect
Contact Me — For collaborations, speaking invitations, or research partnerships.
Explore My Work ➔ — Learn more about my projects, publications, and advocacy.