MERI ANGOLA- VALERIANA

Valeriana Chikoti-Bandua hails from the country of Angola, although she is a former refugee, who was born in Zambia. Much of her childhood, teen and early adult hood was spent in Port, Moresby Papua New Guinea (17 years to be exact).

Naturally her experiences in PNG have shaped the course of her career path, as she learnt so much about the plight of women and children, through her community service involvement in high school with her time serving in the Interact club (rotary club branch) were framed while she grew up in PNG. As well as her time spent on short term mission trips with her local church to local villages in PNG.

Upon relocating to the United States, to further her education, she has gained her Bachelor's and Masters degree from reputable universities, while serving in several leadership capacities, and working in non profit organizations.

To date Valeriana has served her nation of Angola to the United Nations in the third committee (human rights and social issues), which allowed her to work alongside Southern African Development Committee (SADC) member states during the annual Commission of the Status of Women (CSW) in the United Nations. Their tireless work helped successfully pass the HIV/AIDS girl child resolution.

Valeriana continues to advocate for the advancement of women and children from immigrant, refugee and asylum seeker status and underprivileged backgrounds. As she ventures out to building her own initiatives and her own organization that she currently working to create called More Than A Refugee.

Valeriana also attributes much of her success to her Christian faith, and strong values instilled in her parents and her mentors. She looks forward to serving on the Meri West team.

EXCITING NEWS....

MERI WEST TEAM is proud to announce that our associate Miss. Valeriana Bandua has been selected to do a TED TALK. She will be a TEDX speaker at the Florida International University in Miami on the16th of November 2016.