From survivor to entrepreneur: Diana Guțu Zamfir empowers women and children from Moldova through education and dance
Date:
In a small city named Ștefan Vodă, in the southeast of Moldova, Diana Guțu Zamfir has dedicated her life to educating children through innovative teaching and empowering women to rebuild their lives and achieve independence.
After escaping an abusive marriage, she founded the Progress Academy, an educational center that offers English and dance classes and fosters children’s intellectual growth, physical abilities, and creativity.
At 38, the English teacher and entrepreneur has become a powerful voice in advocating against domestic violence, sharing her personal experience with other women survivors.
Guțu Zamfir advocates for resilience, education, and equality, inspiring new generations to believe in themselves and their potential.
Building the passion for education
Guțu Zamfir grew up in the small city of Călărași, cherishing happy childhood memories of playing in snowy fields and nurturing a passion for learning. Her parents emphasized the importance of education, encouraging her to excel in school and enrolling her in various optional lessons - from math, and French, to sports and painting.
This nurturing environment instilled in Guțu Zamfir a strong belief in the importance of education for children, ultimately inspiring her to provide a better life for her daughters and son and eventually pursue a teaching career.
“I believe that if a parent invests in their children, those children will strive for a better life. My parents invested in me, my brother, and my sister when we were young, and I will invest in my children,” she says.
“I believe that if a parent invests in their children, those children will strive for a better life.” – Diana Guțu Zamfir
Breaking free from silence and abuse
Guțu Zamfir married young and had a baby daughter, but her marriage soon became filled with both physical and economic abuse.
“My husband never gave me money for food, for my daughter, not even for clothes,” she recalls.
When her daughter was three months old, Guțu Zamfir secretly gave private English lessons to a few local children, bringing her baby along and earning just enough to buy essentials.
Her path to freedom was anything but easy. In January 2014, her ex-mother-in-law forced her out of the house. Soon after, she got a divorce, but the challenges were far from over.
“My ex-husband and his mother took my child from kindergarten without my consent and did not allow me to see her. This happened very often. They were hiding her from me,” she recalls.
Guțu Zamfir relocated to Ungheni, but her ex-husband filed for custody, claiming she was mentally unfit. The years-long legal battle, resolved in 2021, pushed her to seek help from her family and a local organization, the Women's Law Center, while struggling to make ends meet.
“I got counseling and legal support because I was no longer able to pay all the legal costs. I also turned to the AMICUL Center for psychological support for my daughter to obtain certified proof that the child is fine with me and to help her get over the whole situation,” she recalls.
Progress Academy: A haven for learning and empowerment
Guțu Zamfir began teaching English at home but later gained more practical experience and expertise working at a language center. In 2016, she moved to Ștefan Vodă to escape from her abusive ex-husband, determined to start over. There, she met her second spouse, whose support and encouragement were crucial in moving forward.
Diana Guțu Zamfir’s Progress Academy embodies her belief in education, inspiring children’s growth and creating opportunities for women with every space she builds. Photo: UN Women/Danijel Rakić
Initially, she worked as a border police officer, but during her maternity leave, she had a change of heart, driven to open a Cambridge English learning programme. In 2021, she founded Progress Academy, offering children English language and dance courses.
“Progress Academy is my fourth child,” Guțu Zamfir proudly says. It began in a small classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic and quickly grew into a thriving educational center. “From 2021 until now, more than 600 children have studied English with us,” she adds.
Guțu Zamfir launched Progress Academy’s dance studio in 2022 when her daughter needed more dancers for performances. With over 90 students, it has already participated in international competitions across Europe.
“Dancing has always been a passion of mine. Now, I offer that opportunity to children. I assist with lesson planning, applying my knowledge of effective teaching methods and lesson structure,” she explains.
Motivated by her son’s health challenges, she added a salt room and halotherapy program to her center to promote wellness.
“Make progress in everything. Progress in mind, physical abilities, and health. That's ‘Progress Academy’,” she says, smiling.
Make progress in everything. Progress in mind, physical abilities, and health. That's ‘Progress Academy.” – Diana Guțu Zamfir
This center is more than an educational institution; it is a community of support and empowerment. Guțu Zamfir hires women in need and without formal education, giving them a chance and means for professional development.
“I invested in the education of a young dance coach and enrolled our salt room administrator in a certified halotherapy course to help them excel in their roles,” she says.
The Progress Academy dance studio inspires confidence and creativity, driven by Diana Gutu Zamfir’s passion for education. Photo: UN Women/Danijel Rakić
All of Guțu Zamfir’s efforts contribute to the “Freedom from poverty” area of the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, a voluntary, action-oriented platform to accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 2030 Agenda, as she fosters children’s intellectual growth and creativity while supporting women through learning, skill-building, and creating pathways for independence and equality.
A voice and support for women escaping abuse
“I hate violence, especially when it comes from a man you choose to be your husband and father to your children,” she points out.
She admits that she never intended to become an activist, but it came rather naturally, as she spoke about her own experience whenever she had the opportunity.
“I met many women without support, and I try to help them with advice or guidance on legal steps to take in order to escape violence. We are also victims of a system that fails to adequately protect those experiencing violence; we face many obstacles,” she notes.
Guțu Zamfir is a frequent speaker and participant in events in the city on domestic abuse and women's empowerment, organized by the Women's Law Center and UN Women.
Since 2018, she has been involved with the Soroptimist International Association in Ștefan Vodă, an organization that supports survivors of domestic abuse and promotes skill-building events for young girls.
There, she organized free beauty and make-up master classes, along with workshops led by psychologists offering parenting and relationship sessions.
“I try to help women to love themselves, to know their value and, at the same time, I promote those who are trying to develop a business,” she says.
I try to help women to love themselves, to know their value and, at the same time, I promote those who are trying to develop a business.”
– Diana Guțu Zamfir
A legacy of empowerment and hope
Today, Diana Gutu Zamfir is a role model for women in Moldova and beyond.
To other women facing similar challenges, she offers encouragement from her journey: "Be confident. If you need help, you have to ask for it.”
Her life story highlights the power of resilience, perseverance and the ripple effect of one woman's determination on a community.
“It feels good because I can be a little part of every child who comes to my Progress Academy. Some kids tell their parents that they want to be like me. And that makes me proud. It means that I can influence young minds and perhaps help shape the future generations,” Guțu Zamfir concludes.
This story is a part of the Beijing+30 regional communications campaign ‘Unstoppable,’ aimed at marking the 30th commemoration of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The views expressed in this story are those of the protagonist and the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of UN Women, the United Nations, or any of its affiliated organizations.