Early life story
Born Graça Simbine 17 October 1945 in Mozambique.
Education
Methodist mission schools
Tertiary education- University of Lisbon
RelationsSpouses
Samora Machel (married 1975)
Nelson Mandela (married 1998)
Children
Daughter-Josina Z. Machel (1976)
Son-Malenga Machel (1978)
Political Career
Minister for Education and Culture
Mozambican Minister for Education and Culture (1975 – 1989)
Chairperson of National Organization of Children of Mozambique
Delegate to 1998 UNICEF conference in Zimbabwe
President of National Commission of UNESCO
Professional qualification
Teaching
Occupation
Humanitarian
Career
Member -Africa Progress Panel
Chairperson of the International Board of Trustees -African Child Policy Forum
Chairperson of the Board of Trustees-ACCORD (since 2008)
Chair of the Eminent Advisory Board -Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa
Member of the Board – Mo Ibrahim Foundation
Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees – Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital
Member of the Board of Directors-Synergos
Founder and President -Foundation for Community Development (since 1994)
Honorary Chairwoman of the Board of Directors- VillageReach
Member of the Board of Trustees – International Crisis Group
Member of the Board – United Nations Foundation (1998–2007)
Co-Founder and former Member of the Board -Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) (since 1992)
Co-deputy Chair-The Elders
Honours and Awards
Nansen Medal for Outstanding Humanitarian work (1995)
Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II (1997)
North–South Prize from the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe (1998)
Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
Honorary Fellow of the British Academy
Global Citizen Award of the New England Circle (1997)
Interaction’s Humanitarian Award (1997)
Princess of Asturias Award (Spain).
World’s Children’s Prize (2005)
Decade Child Rights Hero
Award from CARE -longstanding work on behalf of children
Honorary doctorate of Humane Letters – University of Massachusetts (2006)
Doctor of Philosophy Honoris Causa – University of Stellenbosch (2008)
Doctora Honoris Causa – University of Barcelona (2008)
Doutora Honoris Causa-University of Évora, 2008
