Erico Fortes
“I was 25 years old when I came to Bridgewater. [While studying for my master’s] I got a job at the Pedro Pires Institute for Cape Verdean Studies. And I learned more about Cape Verdean culture in my few months there than my entire life in Cabo Verde."
Erico Fortes
- Master’s degree in computer science, BSU, G'16
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering and computer science, Uni-CV, '13
- Professor of Computer Science, Uni-CV
- President of the House of Science, Uni-CV
- Founder of PrimeBotics, Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde: Love of Homeland and Importance of PPICVS
“I was 25 years old when I came to Bridgewater. [While studying for my master’s] I got a job at the Pedro Pires Institute for Cape Verdean Studies. And I learned more about Cape Verdean culture in my few months there than my entire life in Cabo Verde.
“I helped create the musical genre documentary, “Cape Verde & The Music Virtual Museum” and, in the process, I learned so much about the island’s musical heritage.
To take a dive into the Cape Verdean music universe in all its
complexity – characters, instruments, stories, memories,
documents, musical expressions, dances, music, etc… visit https://www.caboverdeamusica.online/
“I learned that there are a lot of important Cape Verdean artists. This is so important for us, especially for Cape Verdeans who live abroad.
“We have a passion for our country and a need to feel close. So, it’s very important that we learn about our culture. It’s also very important for Cape Verdeans to know about all the things other Cape Verdeans have done, and that they are successful.
“We see all these possibilities, to have your own things for example. It’s amazing. And showing the story of people who have been working, especially in education, and have transformed their lives I think is very important. It will motivate people.
“They see, ‘Yes there is hope. Yes, you can do amazing things. All you need is the consistency, the discipline, and you will get there.’
“They dream about the possibility to change their lives, and to change the lives of the people they left behind. So, this work that the Institute is doing is very important.”
Read about Erico Fortes' Journey From Cabo Verde to BSU and Home Again +
Paulo Borges
“We have that something [of that fight] inside of us, and we need to make sure that the changes made possible by the early freedom fighters continue to occur in our country. We can take our country to another level."
Paulo Borges
- Master of Arts in Teaching English, BSU, G’13
- Bachelor of English, Uni-CV ’10
- ESL Professor at Uni-CV
- Coordinator of American Corner at Uni-CV
Cabo Verde: The Passion for the Homeland
“I was born in a very poor country. I had my first pair of shoes when I was 10 years old. We always learned about our country’s history of suffering. The history of oppression. The history of famine on the islands.
“But, although the country is poor, there is a lot of love. Love has great value to us.
“We always feel like we are like revolutionaries. Amilcar Cabral was a great leader of our country. He and other freedom fighters fought against colonialism. Great changes were made.
“We have that something [of that fight] inside of us, and we need to make sure that the changes made possible by the early freedom fighters continue to occur in our country. We can take our country to another level.
“It is not easy to live on our islands. But we are capable of changing the situation of our people. We strongly believe that. It’s not about money. It’s pretty much about how much we love the island and our people.”
Read more about Paulo Borges: His Journey From Cabo Verde to BSU and Home Again +
Donzilia Soares
“Teaching is much more than knowledge. Everyone is different. Bridgewater helped me to be open, to negotiate with my students. To understand they also have a voice. I learned my responsibility as a teacher is to learn different things about my students and try to meet the needs of each."
Donzilia Soares
- Master’s degree, BSU, G’14, Professional Leadership
- Master’s degree, BSU, G‘12, Pre-K-12 Education
- Bachelor’s degree, Uni-CV, ’11,
- Director of the Dana Mohler-Faria English Language Institute, Cabo Verde
- Professor of English, Uni-CV
Thoughts on the Bridgewater Experience
“Teaching is much more than knowledge. Everyone is different. Bridgewater helped me to be open, to negotiate with my students. To understand they also have a voice. I learned my responsibility as a teacher is to learn different things about my students and try to meet the needs of each.
“And I appreciated how my Bridgewater professors fostered critical thinking in students, helping us learn about the world. They instilled in us our need to respect our students, and the need for them to respect us.”
“I think the way that my Bridgewater professors were super supportive and available has influenced how I interact with my students. There’s an openness and more of a willingness to help.”
Read more about Donzilia Soares: Her Journey From Cabo Verde to BSU and Home Again +
Zita Vieira Mendes
“I get a little emotional when I think of Bridgewater. I have taken everything I learned at Bridgewater back to Cape Verde. Without Bridgewater, we [Cape Verdean students who studied at BSU] would be unable to teach at the level we do. Bridgewater left a little piece in all of us."
Zita Vieira Mendes
- Masters of Arts in Teaching English/TESOL Certified, BSU, G'13
- Bachelor’s degree, Uni-CV
- TEFL Professor at Uni-CV
- ELLCV Founder and Executive Director
- Ph. D candidate at University of Lisbon
Bridgewater and Cabo Verde
“I get a little emotional when I think of Bridgewater. I have taken everything I learned at Bridgewater back to Cape Verde. Without Bridgewater, we [Cape Verdean students who studied at BSU] would be unable to teach at the level we do. Bridgewater left a little piece in all of us.
“Now the challenge is that we all need to do more to strengthen these connections between Cape Verde and Bridgewater.
“We need to ask, ‘What can we, in Cape Verde, do better to help strengthen the Institute?’ We have received a lot. It’s time for us to give back.
“And we don’t need to be in the same place to do this. We have the Internet. We could present mini workshops, share our Cape Verdean experiences. And maybe it is time for more Bridgewater students to come here to Cape Verde, to interact with our kids. Let us share with Bridgewater students the methodology we use here.
“Bridgewater has a special place in my heart. Always, I am here to do what I can to help build our relationship for my country and for students from Cape Verde and Bridgewater.”
Read more about Zita in Enduring Partnership +
Harold Tavares
Where I am today, it has a lot to do with Bridgewater State and the experiences from Bridgewater. Bridgewater led me to the practice of thinking globally."
Harold Tavares
- Masters of Public Administration, G'07
- Bachelor’s degree, Economics, '05
- World Bank Group, 2023
- Chief of Staff, Cabo Verde Prime Minister, 2023
- Administrative Director, Mandela Washington Fellowship public management institute at BSU
A native of Cabo Verde and a undergraduate transfer student, Harold Tavares felt comfortable on campus because pockets of Southeastern Massachusetts have a large immigrant population from the island nation. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in public administration. Both foreshadowed his work at the World Bank, which provides financing and technical assistance to support development in more than 170 countries.
As a student, Tavares developed global connections by working with international students and programs. After graduating, he remained on campus, helping the university grow its international partnerships in countries such as Jordan and Belize. He also contributed to the launch of the Minnock Institute for Global Engagement.
Read more about Harold in Difference Maker +
Emanuel De Pina
I have felt embraced by Bridgewater State…. I’m proud to be a Bear."
Emanuel De Pina
- Bachelor’s degree, Criminal Justice, '20
The minute he stepped onto campus for the first time, Emanuel De Pina, ’20, said something felt different.
“People cared,” he said.
Empathy wasn’t something De Pina had regularly experienced in life. The Cape Verdean native said he often struggled early on as an immigrant and person of color.
“As soon as I opened my mouth, I could feel the judgment. People assumed I wasn’t smart based on the way I spoke,” he said. “In the beginning I got upset, but I didn’t let that define me. Instead, I found my strength.”
When he transferred to Bridgewater State University, after earning his associate degree from Massasoit Community College, he found the support he needed to keep moving forward.
Read more about Emanuel in Transferring Success +