Overview
Since 2022, as Education Manager, Azevedo Chitsumba has led a team of qualified teachers and swimming instructors in Tofo, reaching thousands of children and young people across Inhambane Province through water safety, a marine conservation curriculum, educational infrastructure, and community engagement.
Under his leadership, Ocean Guardians (Nemos Pequenos), a UNESCO-recognized program, has been recognized by the Mozambican government and has become a cornerstone of ocean literacy in coastal schools and communities across Inhambane Province, Mozambique.
At the heart of his work is a simple belief: marine conservation in Mozambique must be led by local voices and sustained through inclusive, high-quality education that empowers the next generation of ocean stewards.
Education
Public Administration
Biography
Azevedo M. Chitsumba was born and grew up in Vilanculos, Inhambane Province, where a childhood spent alongside the ocean sparked a lifelong commitment to marine life and conservation.
With a background in Public Administration and Natural Sciences, and training through national community development programs, his passion for environmental education was shaped in Mozambique’s coastal conservation areas, most notably the Bazaruto Archipelago, where everything began.
He first joined the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) as a volunteer, turning that commitment into a career in April 2016 as a marine conservation teacher and swimming instructor. Over the past decade, Azevedo has grown with the organization, developing deep expertise across its educational programs to become head of the department.
