Imaculada Pimenta Vasco
When I was ten years old, the civil war forced my family to leave the northern Angolan province of Kwanza North.
My mother, my five brothers and sisters and I had to flee to Luanda, as fighting intensified in our homeland.
We had to face the difficulties common to millions of internally displaced Angolans. Then, I had to leave education early, owing to pregnancy.
My life has changed dramatically. Every day has been a learning journey
Before joining the BBC World Service Trust, I worked for more than four years with aid agencies on HIV and AIDS prevention.
I used to do field work, undertaking awareness campaigns amongst lorry and truck drivers on sexually transmitted diseases.
Dramatic change
Since 2005, when I started working for the BBC World Service Trust, my life has changed dramatically. Every day has been a learning journey.
I didn't know much about journalism and radio and my skills in these areas were quite limited. However, I decided to give it my best and it was like emerging into a completely new world.
Before starting, I hadn't seen or had access to the internet and I barely knew how to deal with the public by telephone. I also needed to work on
my writing, as I had only followed this to primary level.
The very first time I was doing studio production, to broadcast Mo Kamba, I was literally shaking.
New skills
Times have changed. I have acquired the skills to do my job properly and am now quite confident as a producer. I've learned how helpful it can be to bring in a specialist who can explain, in simple language, some of the key issues we are talking about.
I have also decided to continue my studies so my day starts very early in the morning. I leave home for work at 5.30am, take classes at the end of my working day and don't return home until 11pm.
I will be finishing my secondary studies within five years and am hoping to apply for an undergraduate degree in Economics. What really makes me happy is to produce a great programme and see people participating in the broadcasts.
