“My best memory will be ‘right now!’ Why ? Because I am able to have a better job and income than ever before”
Name : Faruk Gomes Antonio
Gender : Male
DoB : October 1985
City of Birth : Ilha do Mozambique
Status : Married since 2006
Family : 2 Children 10 and 8 yo
Hometown : Ilha do Mozambique
Education : Primary school
Job : Fisherman
Religion : Muslim
Politics : Frelimo party (social)
As a child… How would you picture yourself at 30?
JOB – How did you decide to do this job? As a child I dreamt to become a doctor. I was going to school and was staying at my aunt’s house (the school was close to her place) but I suddenly had to stop school and come back to the island because she died. I started to be a fisherman around the age of 17 – it was the most common way to make money on the island… I was first fishing over the bridge next to my house with friends, and I now own my canoe and go out to the sea almost everyday.
I started to be a fisherman around the age of 17 – it was the most common way to make money on the island…
HOME / PLACE OF LIVING – Where you thought we would be living by now? When I was a child, I always thought I will be living on my island (Iha do Mozambique). When I started to study in Nampula (the province capital, 180km from the island), I imagined I would be living there.
Faruk spending some time with his close family in the living room of his place.
Like many other men on the island, Faruk, works as a fisherman. Fishing being the first income on Mozambique Island.
Striking and memorable events…
IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE – What are the most memorable event of your personal life? The main event in my life was to have my first son. I was so proud to have a son, it is like having a little me.
IN THE WORLD – What are the main events that stroke the world you are living in? The event I want to share with you happened in my family’s village in the Mossuril Bay. I was 12, and I was with my family when an armed group came in… we run to the beach to hide, a lot of people were crying and afraid. I do not remember the exact circumstances and the reason why… But I know it really marked me…
BEST MEMORY – What is your best memory? My best memory will be « right now ». (smiles). Why ? Because I am able to have a better job and income than ever before (working as a fisherman and at the hotel).
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT – I am so proud of the house renovation I am handling all by myself for my mother. I started it in 2013, working every week-end and I hope to end it quite soon.
Looking back / Reviewing expectations
10 YEARS AGO, I projected myself at my 30s, living on the island, starting to work in the tourism industry and studying it at the same time.
TODAY, I still want to reach those goals and change my career path. On another ground, I am also satisfied with my family status.
On the island, Faruk finds his way around with a small Indian brand bike.
Faruk lives in a small house, currently being renovated, in the South part of the Mozambique Island.
30 years old, a turning point?
WHAT’S NEW? – Did you notice some changes since you are 30 YO? I believe that I am wiser than before, I analyze more and pay much more attention to what is happening in my life. I think that I definitely know better what’s wrong and what’s right to do.
OLD OR YOUNG? – Do you feel « old » or « still young »? I am still the young man I used to be. I still have good physical attributes (I can see it everyday at work) and I can think quickly as well (and I think more than ever…) Smiles.
I don’t have regrets about things I didn’t do but I do have regrets about things at didn’t do at my 100% of my capacities.
CHANGES OR REGRETS? What are the things you would like to change? I do regret that I cheated on my wife once… She discovered it and the consequences were terrible for our couple and the whole family. I wish this would not have happened.
My Values
My Typical day
And tomorrow?
YOUR STORY IN 10 YEARS – What is the story you want to tell within 10 years? I want to be a happy husband with my wife and 2 kids. I would rather having only 2 kids and succeed in giving them a good level of education than to giving birth to many children. (I cannot afford to pay for the education of more than 2). I want to live near Mozambique Island. I wish I will be able to study tourism so as to change my profession. In the meantime, I want to diversify more and more my competences and jobs – such as a mason or carpenter- to earn as much money as possible.
THE WORLD IN 10 YEARS – How do you imagine the world you will be living in within 10 years? I do think the country will change a lot (I mean for the northern part of Mozambique, because I don’t know the situation in the whole country). I really believe that it will develop a lot thanks to the increase of tourism and the numerous foreign investments made on new minerals.
Fears and Dreams…
FEARS – What are you afraid of? I am afraid of being a victim of an accident when I am out at sea for fishing. I don’t fear to die (for myself) , but I mainly fear to leave my family alone (my wife isn’t working), without resources to pay for my kids studies.
ACHIEVEMENTS – What are the things you want to achieve? As I said before, I want to do everything I can to change of job and start working in the tourism industry.
DREAMS – What is your craziest dreams? I wish I could be one of the champion of Sporting football club (Portuguese football club). But this is a dream (laughing)
