Meet the team

Instructors and Coaches

Tania Camara

AfroFitness, AfroDance & Batuku Instructor

Tania Camara

AfroFitness, AfroDance & Batuku Instructor

Tania Camara is a multi-talented solo artist based in Manchester, with expertise across a range of creative disciplines. Her work spans devised theatre, African dance, live art, video production, voice work, and music, bringing depth and diversity to her performances.

At LusoconnectionUK, Tania leads Afrofitness and Afrodance classes, sharing her passion for African-inspired movement. She is also one of the founders of Creolas de Salford, a batuku group dedicated to preserving and celebrating this traditional Cape Verdean musical genre. Her contributions enrich the community both on and off the stage.

Ana Julia (Juju)

Cooking Instructor

Ana Julia (Juju)

Cooking Instructor

Ana Julia, fondly called Juju by her community, is a self-taught culinary enthusiast with a passion for gastronomy and years of hands-on experience.

Her journey includes volunteering to cook for elderly community members during special occasions, fostering stronger community ties while refining her culinary skills. At LusoconnectionUK, Juju now leads cooking workshops tailored for parents with children under 5, sharing her love of cooking and creating meaningful connections through food.

Tucum Capoeira Manchester

Capoeira

Tucum Capoeira Manchester

Capoeira

Tucum Capoeira Manchester collaborates with LusoconnectionUK to offer engaging Capoeira lessons for both children and adults, enriching the local community through this vibrant Brazilian martial art. With a focus on physical fitness, cultural appreciation, and personal development, these classes provide participants with an opportunity to learn Capoeira's unique blend of dance, acrobatics, and music.

Through their partnership with LusoconnectionUK, Tucum Capoeira Manchester not only promotes physical well-being but also enhances community cohesion by bringing people together through shared experiences. The classes encourage social interaction and cultural exchange, allowing participants to connect with their heritage while developing new skills.

Volunteers

Aleluia Gomes

Session & Event Support

Aleluia Gomes

Session & Event Support

Aleluia Gomes, lovingly known as Ausenda in her community, has been a dedicated volunteer since the organisation's early days. Her commitment shines through her active involvement, consistently supporting and driving the organisation’s mission across various projects.

Recognising her exceptional skills and passion, Ausenda was given a key role in coordinating and delivering heritage dance projects. Through this, she has skilfully blended her cultural knowledge with community service, making valuable contributions that have enriched and significantly enhanced the organisation’s project outcomes and cultural engagement.

Edson Carvalho

Session & Event Support

Edson Carvalho

Session & Event Support

Edson has gained valuable experience with SOS Children’s Village, a well-known children’s charity in Cape Verde, where he played a key role in their fundraising team. During these events, he was instrumental in guiding and supporting volunteers, ensuring everything ran smoothly, and creating strong teamwork among participants.

His collaboration with Lusoconnectionuk has been a fulfilling journey. Edson has sharpened his skills in event planning, volunteer management, and community outreach through his work, making significant contributions to the organisation’s initiatives while furthering his professional growth.

Cristina de Pina

Session Support

Cristina de Pina

Session Support

Cristina is an enthusiastic and dedicated community volunteer with over a year of experience fostering social change and promoting community engagement. Her involvement spans various initiatives, including workshops and cultural events, showcasing her versatility and commitment to community-driven projects..

Fluent in Portuguese, English, and French, Cristina brings strong communication skills to her volunteer work. Her expertise in interpreting helps bridge language barriers, ensuring smooth communication and collaboration among diverse groups within the organisation.

Fátima Santos

Event and Festival Support

Fátima Santos

Event and Festival Support

Fatima is a passionate and committed volunteer whose efforts are essential to the success of our events and festivals. Her dedication and enthusiasm bring energy and positivity, creating memorable experiences that leave a lasting impact on our community.

Beyond her contributions to events and festivals, Fatima generously supports weekend activities and is always ready to lend a helping hand whenever needed. Her reliability and versatility make her an invaluable part of our team, ensuring the smooth running of our programs and activities. We are grateful for Fatima’s hard work and the warmth she brings to everything she does, making every event and activity she’s involved in truly special.

Rosa Vaz

Baby & Toddler Session Support

Rosa Vaz

Baby & Toddler Session Support

As a mother of three, Rosa has a natural talent for nurturing and caring for children that goes beyond her own family. Her deep love for childcare inspired her to turn her passion into a professional venture, leading her to start her own home-based childminding business.

Alongside running her full-time childminding business and managing a small team, Rosa has been a dedicated volunteer with Lusoconnectionuk since its early days. Her commitment to supporting families is clear in her contributions to creating welcoming and inclusive environments at organisational events, reflecting her ongoing passion for child welfare and community involvement.

Leto

Session Support

Leto

Session Support

His commitment goes beyond simply taking part; he plays a key role in ensuring everything runs smoothly and creating memorable experiences for attendees.

From coordinating with team leaders to prepare venues for opening, to setting up stages and structures, Leto carefully manages festival equipment, oversees setup and breakdown, and ensures that venues are left spotless. His passion and attention to detail demonstrate the significant impact one devoted volunteer can have on community events.

Marcelo de Pina

Basketball Session Support

Marcelo de Pina

Basketball Session Support

Marcelo's basketball journey began when LusoconnectionUK launched a community sports group. Under the guidance of the respected coach Sr. Joaquim, he honed his basketball skills while also supporting the team by offering translation services during training sessions.

Marcelo’s dedication to volunteering goes beyond basketball. He regularly plays with young children, encouraging them to develop their skills and enjoy the sport. Marcelo also demonstrated his commitment in the summer holidays by volunteering at the Baby & Toddler Sing and Dance sessions.

Laysa Baesa

Basketball Session Support

Laysa Baesa

Basketball Session Support

Laysa joined the Lusoconnectionuk community group in February 2023, taking on basketball as a new challenge. Her journey has been one of personal growth and inspiration, as she dedicates countless hours playing basketball with children as young as three. Despite attending university, Laysa makes time to support community sports sessions during her breaks, and her visible progress in the sport inspires the young players around her.

Her story highlights the power of dedication and a person's positive impact on a community. By engaging with younger players and sharing her passion for basketball, Laysa helps cultivate a love for the game and encourages skill development among the children she works with.

Alexandra Gomes

Session Support

Alexandra Gomes

Session Support

Alexandra brings positivity and energy to everything she does within the team. Driven by a genuine desire to help others, she sees volunteering as a meaningful way to support her community and contribute to a cause she deeply believes in.

With her warm and fun-loving personality, Alexandra approaches every session with enthusiasm and a smile. Her ability to connect with people and make others feel comfortable helps create a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone. For her, volunteering is not just about supporting activities, but about building connections and making people feel at home.

Althea Brucculer

Session Support

Althea Brucculer

Session Support

Althea is an Italian mum who has been living in the UK for nearly ten years. She is the proud mother of Elijah, an energetic toddler who brings joy to every session.

She first connected with Lusoconnectionuk through baby and toddler groups, Afrofitness classes, and community events, where she built strong connections with other families and experienced the supportive environment of the organisation.

A teaching assistant by profession, Althea has a natural passion for working with children. Inspired by the positive impact of the organisation, she now volunteers to support activities, helping create a warm and welcoming space where families can connect, share experiences, and grow together.

Events & Photography

Luis Baesa

Event Coordinator & Audio Visual

Luis Baesa

Event Coordinator & Audio Visual

Luis is key to making our events and workshops a success. From managing the venue and coordinating logistics to ensuring safety guidelines are met, he handles it all with care. As a welcoming host, he keeps attendees engaged and entertained.

Luis also sets up and tests AV equipment, like microphones, projectors, and sound systems, and provides on-site technical support to resolve any issues during the event. He coordinates presentations and media content, making sure everything runs smoothly and stays on schedule from start to finish.. He coordinates presentations and media content, making sure everything runs smoothly and stays on schedule from start to finish

Bruce Freitas

Video & Photography

Bruce Freitas

Video & Photography

Bruce Freitas is a creative video director and photographer passionate about uniting communities and giving a platform to often overlooked voices.

Through his community projects, Bruce showcases his artistic talent and fosters meaningful connections, leaving a lasting impression on the people and places he collaborates with, while supporting Lusoconnectionuk’s initiatives to strengthen our community.

Luis Cabral (Tim)

Photography

Luis Cabral (Tim)

Photography

Tim is a talented photographer whose dedication has been instrumental in capturing the heart of Lusoconnectionuk's events and activities. His contributions go beyond photography; they build connections and enhance the sense of unity within our community.

For Tim, this journey has also been an opportunity to develop his skills, and his commitment showcases the incredible impact one person's talents can have when shared with others. We are deeply thankful to Tim for sharing his gift. His photographs are more than images—they beautifully reflect the joy, unity, and vibrant spirit that define Lusoconnectionuk.

Marketing

Ivete Silva

Digital Marketing

Ivete Silva

Digital Marketing

Ivete is an experienced digital marketing professional with over 16 years of international marketing experience. Originally from Portugal, she has lived in the UK since 2004. She uses her cultural background and multilingual skills to build strong connections with diverse teams and communities.

With expertise across a broad spectrum of digital marketing, including website development, social media management, event coordination, and strategic planning, Ivete plays a key role in enhancing LusoconnectionUK’s online presence and expanding its outreach efforts.

Become a volunteer

Would you like to make a difference?

Come and volunteer with us to make a real difference in supporting the Lusophone community in Greater Manchester.

Whether you can spare just a few hours or want to commit for the long term, there’s something for everyone. It’s not just about giving back – it’s a chance to learn new skills, make friends, and be part of a passionate, welcoming team.

Join our team

Meet the Team

Instructors and Coaches

Tania Camara

Ana Julia (Juju)

Tucum Capoeira Manchester

Volunteers

Aleluia Gomes

Edson Carvalho

Cristina de Pina

Fátima Santos

Rosa Vaz

Leto

Marcelo de Pina

Laysa Baesa

Alexandra Gomes

Althea Brucculer

Events & Photography

Luis Baesa

Bruce Freitas

Luis Cabral (Tim)

Marketing

Ivete Silva

Would you like to make a difference?

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