PERSONAL DETAILS
Full name: Cecilia Bermúdez Horsten
Birth Date and Place: 1977-11-16, Copenhagen, Denmark
Nationality: Danish
ID nr: Danish ID – 161177-3192
Marital status: Married (to Ismael J. Naukosho)
Dependants: Ariana Iyaloo Bermúdez Horsten Naukosho (2007)
Driving license: Code 08 (South African)
Phone: (+264) 61-24-8033 (home)
(+264) 81-283 3390 (cell ph.)
E-mail:
Postal Address: P.O.Box 1548
Windhoek
Namibia
Other: Namibian Domicile (granted June 2008)
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY
I was born in Denmark to Ester Margarita Bermúdez Otero (Cuban) and Fritz Horsten (Danish). I grew up with my parents and older sister in Luanda, Angola (1978-87), in Maputo, Moçambique (1987-93) and in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea (1993-94) where my father worked as a forestry advisor for FAO. Living for long periods under very precarious and difficult conditions, it has made it easier for me to adapt to unusual places and situations. At the same time, it has been a fascinating challenge. It was growing up in these environments that I developed my interest for languages and human cultures, and a need to better understand problems with human social relations and interactions. I went to Cuban (Angola) and Swedish (Moçambique) primary schools. I started my high school at the Swedish School in Maputo, continued through correspondence in Malabo, and completed it at the Bagsværd Boarding School in Copenhagen, Denmark. On completion of my high-school studies, I pursued a Bachelor's degree (with Honours) in Social Anthropology at the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa, to enable me to deepen and widen my knowledge and experience in an environment similar to the one I grew up in. In June 2003 I graduated with a Masters degree in Practical Anthropology, also at UCT. Shortly after I was recruited by the Danish development organisation IBIS in Namibia, for whom I started working in August 2003 as Programme and Information Assistant to the Regional Director in Windhoek, until December 2008.
CURRICULUM VITAE
FORMAL EDUCATION
2001-2003: Master of Arts in Practical Anthropology, UCT. Dissertation title: “A retrospective field experience: A Reflexive journey through day-to-day work with ‘street children’ at Street Universe.”
2002: Certificate of Completion of ‘Anthropology of Childhood and Youth’ course, UCT. The course equipped learners with knowledge of current thinking around methods of listening to and working with children and youth and also examined popular perceptions of childhood that influence policy and practice relating to children and youth.
2000: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Anthropology, UCT. Dissertation title:
“Do mixed race couples in post-apartheid South Africa experience discrimination and if so, of what kind?”
1997-2000: Bachelor of Arts, major in Social Anthropology, UCT.
Class medal: English Language Studies.
1994-1996: High School/A-levels, Humanities line, Bagsvaerd Kostskole og Gymnasium, Copenhagen. Majors: Spanish and English. Special Assignment:
“Equatorial Guinea – dictatorship or democracy?”
1993-1994: High School/A-Levels, Humanities line. Correspondence course (through Liber Hermods, Malmö, Sweden), Malabo.
1992: High School/A-levels, Humanities line. Swedish School in Maputo.
One-week practical work orientation stages in 1991 at a Theatre and at a Veterinary Clinic.
OTHER
2005: Attended ‘Dare to be Different’ Southern Africa Institute for Fundraising Convention, Cape Town.
2004: Certificate of Completion of ‘Managing Development Projects, Programmes and Organisations’ course, IMA International, Cape Town.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2005 - present Vice-Consul (Honourary), Danish Royal Consulate, Windhoek, Namibia.
2005 – present Information Co-ordinator for IBIS Southern Africa (Angola, Namibia and South Africa)
2003 – present: Programme and Information Assistant to the Regional Director at IBIS’ Regional Office, Windhoek, Namibia. Working extensively with projects and programmes in Angola and South Africa, as part of IBIS’ regional interventions.
2002: Volunteer assignment: Nine weeks full-time internship at Street Universe (local NGO creating opportunities and structures for street-hardened street children or youth and the broader community, for their mutual uplifting), Cape Town.
2002: Simultaneous translation (Spanish-English/English-Spanish) for IUF ‘Land and Freedom’ Conference, Cape Town. IUF is the global union federation of trade unions, with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
2001: Consecutive translation (Spanish-English/English-Spanish) for the Director of the Tri-Continental Magazine at ANC Study Group meeting in Parliament and at memorial service of the late Mr. Govan Mbeki as arranged by the ANC, Cape Town.
2000: Consecutive translation (Spanish-English/English/Spanish) for renowned Cuban jazz band Bobby Carcasses’ visit to Cape Town, South Africa.
2000: Consecutive translation (Spanish-English/English-Spanish) for the Nobel Peace Prize Winner from Guatemala, Rigoberta Menchú, during a visit to Cape Town, South Africa.
1999: Anthropological analysis for City Council, of One City-Many Cultures Festival, Cape Town.
1996-1997: Teaching beginner/intermediate-level English, FAO (United Nations), Malabo.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR EXPERIENCE
2005: Member of Southern African Institute of Fundraising (SAIF), Cape Town.
2002: Volunteering part-time (over period of 8 months) at Street Universe (after internship finished), Cape Town.
2001-2002: Member of Friends of Cuba Society (FOCUS) executive committee.
1999-2001: Assistance at social events (First Cuban film festival held in South Africa, gala organization, mediation) of FOCUS, Cape Town.
1999-2001: Disk Jockey’ing Latin American and African music at student parties and private parties, Cape Town.
1998-1999: Member of Baha’i Society (UCT), Cape Town.
1998-2000: Vice-Chairperson (1999-2000) and Liaisons portfolio (1998) for International Students Organization (UCT), Cape Town.
1995: Administrative team for Operation Dagsvaerk (collection of funds for donation to Mozambique), Copenhagen.
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
Computer skills: Word-processing (MSWord, WordPerfect) : Excellent
Use of Internet/E-mail : Excellent
Windows 95/98/Me : Proficient
Language skills: Languages Proficiency
English, Spanish, Portuguese, Danish Excellent
French, Swedish, Italian Good
Afrikaans, German Basic understanding
AREAS OF INTEREST
Anthropology (development discourse, multiculturalism, identity, globalisation, childhood and youth), Linguistics, Traveling, Music, Dancing, Swimming, Tai Chi, Interior decoration, DJ’ing.
REFERENCES
Carsten Nørgaard
Regional Director of IBIS / Danish Consul (Namibia)
061 237565
Margaret Amatheus
HR and Administration Officer, IBIS
061 237565
Helle C. Cawthra
Information Manager, IBIS (South Africa)
+27 11 622 9500
Irene Fredriksson
Education Programme Manager, IBIS (Angola)
+244 923 714164
Robert Araeb
Audit Manager, Swart Grant Angula (Namibia)
+44 789 288 6796