The Author of the project
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Maybe it's a strange way to start, or maybe just a different one. But the answer "violinist, doctor-scientist, and garbage man" is even more unusual. My name is Gonçalo Monteiro, and those were my dream jobs.
People often asked me why I wanted to be a "garbage man". I always saw these professionals as superheroes: the fact that they keep the streets (which we all use) clean, pick up trash from the ground, and ensure hygiene by doing what no one else likes to do meant, and still means, a lot to me.
I ended up changing my path and pursuing Finance, and in the future, Management, but my goal remains the same: to make the world a better place. Above all, I want to inspire and motivate people toward positive and sustainable change. I see myself as a man of the world, with a long-standing passion and an unstoppable drive to explore new cultures, countries, people, and realities. My best experiences have been abroad: an intensive month in Paris, a semester studying in Canada, four months working in the Netherlands, and volunteering in Kruger National Park.
Those around me consider creativity to be one of my greatest strengths, alongside my resilience and perseverance. Like everyone, I also recognize my weaknesses: I believe I can be overly self-critical, negative, and at times, naive.
I was born on February 8, 2002, I love sports (I run every other day), and I’ve been playing the violin for 20 years. This is me, summed up in a few words.
Some Fun Facts About Me
- My first trip was to Norway (Oslo) when I was 4 years old, with the violin group.
- In total, I’ve visited 16 countries: Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, England, Scotland, Norway, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Canada, the United States, and South Africa.
- The first time I saw snow was in Canada, at the age of 20. I’ll admit: it had been a long-time dream of mine, but after a month of constant snowfall, I was already a bit tired of it. After four months, I couldn’t stand the sight of snow anymore!
- The destination that impressed me the most was Hawaii; the country that moved me the most was South Africa; and the city I most enjoyed living in was Paris.
- There are many things I miss when I'm away from my country. But probably what I miss the most is Portuguese food. There are great dishes in other countries, it's true, but our cuisine is simply perfect: some delicious choquinhos à algarvia, carne de porco à alentejana, bacalhau à Brás, and so many, many more…
- As strange as it may sound, I don’t like pizza and I’m not a big fan of coffee either.
- I represented Sporting as a federated triathlete, but I’ve always been a die-hard Benfica fan.
The Project
The Name
Once, a teacher told me: "Everything we do is for ourselves; man is a selfish being". Maybe he was right, maybe not… in the end, what matters is whether what we did was good for ourselves and, above all, for Everyone. That's why my project aims to speak on behalf of everyone. But I also want you, them, or even you to do the same.
Therefore, I speak for everyone, You do it for everyone, and fundamentally, PA-LO Por Todos!
Why the PALOP Countries?
I have long dreamed of doing something that creates a positive impact in the world. One night, I woke up in the middle of a dream. In that dream, I was lost in Angola, searching for a bus. I wondered, "Why Angola?" Then a light opened up, and everything began to flow naturally. That was it: I wanted to do something that touched me personally, to go back to my roots, to my history, and fulfill my purpose in those countries to which I feel connected.
My maternal grandmother was born in Angola, my father and paternal grandmother were born in Cape Verde, my grandfather went through hard times during the Colonial War, served in the military in Mozambique, and worked in Guinea-Bissau. I began to find a connection between all these places, feelings, and family stories and arrived at the PALOP countries. It makes perfect sense to visit and create an impact in these countries, where I have a past but have never been, and where, until now, I haven’t been able to make a difference.
The countries where my family was born, and also suffered. We share a common language and a past: turbulent at times, painful often, but also marked by mutual support and a deep connection.
By choosing these countries, I am not just retracing my family’s footsteps. I am recognizing their struggles and honoring their history. I want to learn from Everyone, experience the culture, understand Everyone’s reality, listen to and share stories with Everyone, connect with my ancestors, and above all, leave a positive impact that somehow lasts beyond my time.
I want to return to the past with my ancestors, live the present and leave a future in these countries. They will not only mean Portuguese-speaking African countries, but also: Preparation-Art-Luta (Struggle)-Ocean-Pollution.
Why Now?
After several adventures, I decided that I want to continue exploring the world, now in a different way. Not just studying, working, or traveling, but mainly making an impact. I feel like something is missing: to know that world more deeply and better. So, I want this to be the spark of inspiration for the times ahead.
I want to learn more about people: what moves and troubles them, who they are, what kind of support they need and why, what they lack or have too much of, what they fear the most, and what their hopes, ambitions, and desires are. I will learn all this with the certainty that it will be used in my personal and professional future, as well as in a shared future that belongs to Everyone. I see this project as six months of learning, teaching, and hard work. I see this project not just as my own, but as a project that belongs to Everyone. I know it’s what I need to transform my ideas into actions. This is the perfect moment to do PA-LO Por Todos!.
