ZAMBIA | EXPLORING CONSERVATION CAREERS
EXPLORING Conservation Careers with the North Luangwa
Conservation Programme
[ WRITER: North Luangwa Conservation Programme ]
When you think of a career in conservation, what springs to mind? A park ranger? An ecologist? A wildlife veterinarian? While these jobs are certainly crucial to conservation, they’re not the only paths one can take to have a job that entails conserving natural resources. We’d like to introduce you to some of our North Luangwa Conservation Programme conservation leaders of the future and share their career journeys. Their job descriptions may just surprise you! The good news is that, if you have a passion for conservation and dream of a fulfilling career that works towards the ultimate goal of conserving nature for the benefit of people and wildlife alike, you have more than one option. Today, more than ever, the field of conservation requires diverse qualifications, world views and work experiences.
RING MUYEMBE:
[ PHOTOS: Mana Meadows ]
Established in 1986, the North Luangwa Conservation Programme is a partnership between the Frankfurt Zoological Society and the Zambian Department of National Parks and Wildlife to conserve the North Luangwa ecosystem.
Mechanic
After completing Grade 12, Ring Muyembe considered becoming a pharmacist. Ring had always been interested in conservation and she had been an enthusiastic attendee of NLCP’s Lolesha Luangwa education programme. She loved it so much she would attend lessons she’d already completed the year before! But a career in conservation – or mechanics – had never occurred to her. “I never thought about mechanics at first, but after hearing about the opportunity, I said to myself, ‘let me just try it, and if it doesn’t work, I can go back to my career dream’. And I found it so interesting that I have forgotten about a career in pharmacy. I would like to advance in mechanics and reach a level where I have my own workshop and run my own garage. It wouldn’t be far away – it would be here in Mpika, so that people can be inspired to see that, through North Luangwa, I have reached my dream.” She says, “It feels so good being an example to the world. I encourage others to be hardworking and determined. You can become whatever you want as long as your mind is set.” Ring spends weekdays in North Luangwa National Park. “At first, it was hard leaving my family behind, but now it’s so interesting. I’ve seen a lot of animals like elephants, even lions, zebras, and I enjoy the fresh air. Conservation is not all about law enforcement. It is about us, the people who are in the community, coming together and promoting and protecting our animals, because it is for our own benefit.”
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TRAVEL & LEISURE | Sept - Dec 2021
