This interview is part of a series profiling the stories of the 2024 WE Africa leadership programme fellows, African women in the environmental conservation sector who are showing up with a strong back, soft front, and wild heart.
***
Valera Lucena Dias was the child no one expected much from. She was deeply loved, fiercely sheltered, but not always heard.
In church, while the other kids sang and danced, Valera stood on the sidelines, watching. A part of her longed to join in and feel the same joy and confidence they felt. But something always held her back.
"I grew up with my mother, grandparents and brothers. And as the last-born, I was always protected," she says.
Not that she's complaining.
"The last child doesn't do the hard work at home," she adds with a laugh.
But there was a flip side.
"When I talked, the others usually didn't pay much attention."
So, Valera learned to stay in the background—unnoticed and unheard. But even as that shy, overlooked youngest child, there was always an undeniable desire to speak and to be seen.
"I wanted to show people that I could do something."
And that's precisely what she did in the end.
"Today, I can't say there's anything I've dreamed of and couldn't achieve," she says. "Because if I come up against something I can't reach, I tell myself—maybe it's just not the right time. Maybe I'm trying to force it."
***
Growing up without her father around wasn't ideal.
"But when I look back today," Valera says, "I don't feel like I lost much. The people who were there for me gave me everything I needed."
Her grandfather, a hardworking craftsman and respected church leader, was one of those people.
"Our house was right next to the church, and I watched how he opened our doors to others. Even though I was so young, I remember his kindness clearly."
Subsequently, Valera was so drawn to the church that she asked her mother if she could join the catechism group to learn more about the Bible and God. From that moment, religion became the foundation of her life.
When she was six years old, her grandfather passed away. But his kindness didn't leave with him. It took root in her.
"I feel like a part of him lives in me," she says.
Valera's grandmother was equally important. "She taught me so much about how to be a lady and carry myself with grace," Valera says.
She, too, passed away when Valera was 14, and after that, it was Valera's mother who became her anchor.
But sometimes, her mother's love felt a little too protective.
"She was strict," Valera says. "She didn't allow me to go out and visit friends. Everything was very controlled.”
At the time, she felt oppressed, but now that she has children of her own, Valera understands why her mother did what she did and is, in fact, doing more or less the same things with her kids.
"She wanted to make sure I stayed on the right path,” she says.
A pause.
"I didn't fully understand how hard it must have been for her to raise children alone."
After completing catechism classes, Valera chose to become a catechism teacher herself. That experience revealed a gift she hadn't realised she possessed.
***
When it was time to choose a career, Valera's mother wanted her to study medicine. But Valera knew that wasn't her path.
Instead, she was drawn to biology.
"I always wanted to be free—to be surrounded by nature, to have space to explore. The environment always felt like home to me."
So, she told her mother she wouldn't be joining med school.
"Of course, I admire those who help people in that way, but it didn't seem like my destiny," she says.
However, many people don't fully understand what a biologist does.
"They assumed it was just about teaching," she says.
The only person who truly supported her dream was her uncle.
"He told me: You can do more than people think. You can be a researcher.”
That was all Valera needed to hear.
In hindsight, she now understands why her uncle's words instantly clicked. That curiosity, the urge to discover the new, was what she had been searching for all along. Today, she knows being a researcher isn't just something she does—it's who she is.
***
Valera graduated with a biology major in marine ecology and was offered a teaching job at the university. To this opportunity, she said yes. But standing in front of her students (some of them older than her) and commanding their attention was uncomfortable. She did it anyway.
There was joy in knowing she had attained this position. There was confidence that came from what she had learned as a catechism teacher. There was trust in God's guidance. And, of course, there was nervousness. But she welcomed it. The mistakes she made were not things to be ashamed of. Instead, she took them as opportunities for growth, moments of inner healing. And just like that, the girl who once stood on the sidelines stepped into her glory.
So, she pushed. Even further.
Valera applied for a Master's degree and was accepted to study in Australia. She knew she wanted to stay connected to marine studies, but she also wanted her work to have a tangible impact on her community. And so, she chose to specialise in aquaculture—understanding how to cultivate aquatic resources sustainably to support food security and local economies.
Her first year in Australia was intense—a new culture, new habits, a different rhythm of life.
Sadly, in the midst of all this, she lost her brother back home. It was an immense loss, made even harder by being so far from home. She was also surrounded by people who didn't speak Portuguese; she didn't encounter anyone from her home country, Mozambique.
"It was such a challenging stage for me," she says.
But quitting was never an option.
"I went there to do my Master's degree, and I was going to finish it and bring all the knowledge I had gained back to my community."
And that's what she did.
After completing her Master’s degree, Valera returned to her university in Mozambique. Less than a year later, she received a scholarship to pursue her PhD. This time, she went to Cape Town, where she specialised in Molecular Biology—focusing on marine Biotechnology. She wanted to use science to improve the environment and transfer that knowledge to local communities.
"At the end of the day, I'm really happy because I chose this path for myself," she says.
Today, in addition to her academic role as a lecturer and an Assistant Professor at Eduardo Mondlane University, Valera chairs the Mozambique National Chapter of the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD). She knows firsthand what it's like to feel unseen, to hesitate before stepping forward. But she also knows the power of facing one's fears, uncertainties and obstacles. So, she is helping the next generation of young women to find their voices, just as she once found hers.
***
During her WE Africa journey, Valera learned to recognise the internal barriers that have continued to hold her back.
Like many people, she had fallen into the habit of doing what was expected, even if it didn't align with her true passions. In this case, Valera had been appointed to head a section at her university—an honour, indeed—but the administrative tasks didn't excite her.
Three months in, she knew it wasn't the right fit. But leaving so soon didn't seem like an option. People told her she needed to give it more time. So, she stayed—first for a year, then another. The longer she stayed, the harder it was to walk away.
Her WE Africa coach shared a powerful analogy that finally made everything clear.
"Imagine you have a variety of fruits in your hands—bananas, apples, mangoes, strawberries. Everyone around you insists that strawberries are the best. But in your heart, you love mangoes. They may not be everyone's first pick, but they're what make you happy. So why force yourself to take the strawberry because others say it's the right choice?"
That metaphor clicked.
With newfound clarity, she gracefully stepped away from the position. Now, she's back to focusing on her research and the projects she loves. She feels lighter and more fulfilled in her work.
"When you're at peace, you can move forward, you can help more people, and you can make a bigger impact," she says.
She acknowledges that some people around her have luxurious lifestyles, but she doesn't feel pressured to chase the same. Instead, for Valera, fulfilment comes from a different place—making an impact and finding peace in the life she has built.
"I want my life to be defined by the time I spent helping people," she says.
Every now and then, a student, a young woman she has mentored, or a colleague she has worked with comes to her and says, "Thank you. You helped me get here." In those moments, she realises she's on the right path.
Valera sees the full circle of her journey. And it’s not one driven by chasing success as others define it, but by staying true to what fulfils her.
She followed her curiosity and became a teacher.
She longed to be heard and now amplifies the voices of others.
She wanted to make a difference and has achieved this through her contributions to scientific knowledge and the countless lives she has touched.
Her parting words?
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank God for the gift of life, my mother (in memory) for guiding me so firmly for as long as she could, and my brothers and other family members for their support. A very special acknowledgement to my husband, who has supported me in my choices, and to my three beloved children, who have added more value to my life.
"I AM WE AFRICA.”
***
The following statement was written and shared by Valera Lucena Dias during her graduation from the WE Africa Leadership Program in December 2024:
What if I shine?
What if I shine like the light of the sun rising on a spring morning, my light illuminating the pathways, complemented by hope and warmth for those around me? The idea of shining is not about reflecting wealth or fame, but about being and bringing out the best version of yourself, because shining means being authentic, being yourself: Yes, just show up as you are!
If I shine, it will be the reflection of all the effort I have put into my dreams and goals. Product of each challenge I have overcome, each lesson I have learned, and each support I have received!
If I shine, I will illuminate the world around me, not to boast, but to inspire those who need it most. The true shine comes from the heart.
Dr Valera Lucena Dias, WE Africa 2024 Fellow
