 As a refugee in 1978, she survived the Battle of Cassinga, a South African airborne attack on SWAPO across the border in Angola.She later received military training and joined the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), SWAPO's armed wing during the Namibian War of Independence.Nashandi graduated with a Diploma in Youth and Development from University of Zambia in 1983 and earned a master's degree in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Westminster in 2002 while on a diplomatic posting.