Nasreen Monareng is a 28-year-old woman from the Calcutta Village just outside of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Today, with our extended Londolozi community from around the world, we are celebrating the fact that Nasreen was the top 2020 Conservation Academy student at Good Work Foundation (GWF), Londolozi’s education non-profit partner.
Here’s what Nasreen has to say about being a woman in the conservation industry. Just a quick warning before you press play: You may just find yourself in a new career afterwards!
As part of Nasreen’s top student award, she had the opportunity to spend some time at EcoTraining’s Pridelands Camp where she put her guiding and tracking skills to practice. Nasreen also met members of the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching unit, an all-women unit who protect rhinos via “boots on the ground” but also by being role models in their communities.
“Since childhood I’ve always wanted to see myself working in the bush,” says Nasreen. “It is where I get my peace and it’s something I love and enjoy doing. Being a guide is what I dream of everyday, which is why I gave my all in this course.”
In Nasreen’s own words, her mind was “mixed up” after she graduated from high school and opportunities were few. By chance she found herself on a GWF digital learning campus where she completed the entry-level Bridging Academy course before being accepted to the Conservation Academy. This year 308 students – mostly between the ages of 19 and 30 – are enrolled in GWF’s Bridging Academy course across five digital learning campuses in Mpumalanga. Over 70% of these students are women, all determined to improve their English, communication and IT skills so that they can unlock opportunities for personal and career development.
Nasreen’s dedication to improving her English has allowed her to hone in on her storytelling and bush interpretation skills, while her thoroughness in 2019 during her IT module allowed her to get ahead in 2020 when large parts of learning were forced online. What’s next for Nasreen? She is already talking about doing her Field Guide Association of South Africa (FGASA) Level 2 Guiding qualification and she cannot wait to become a professional guide.
Nasreen, we wish you every success on your journey. May you inspire more young people who love nature but are held back by the belief that conservation is a “man’s world.” Conservation is a world for all of us and now, more than ever, conservation needs young people, like you, who are willing to step forward with passion, curiosity and awe for the natural world.
A special thank you to Konica Minolta South Africa, the More Community Trust, and EcoTraining for paving the way for South Africa’s newest conservationist
Great work, this foundation is doing!
Ryan, yeh lepard🤗🤗
Ryan, yeh lepard🤗
Way to go girls!
The Good Work Foundation continues to make amazing differences for individuals from underserved communities!
Brilliant! What a great opportunity GWF gives to young women in the community. It was good to hear your passion for conservation Nasreen and congratulations on your achievement.
Congratulations to Nasreen on completing the first step towards her guiding goal, thanks to the GWF, graduating at the top of her class. It’s good to hear that so many young women have entered the Bridging Academy looking to improve or learn skills that will provide them with better job opportunities as well as building self-esteem.
Thank you Londolozi for developing and supporting the GWF so that more individuals, like Nasreen, can achieve their goals.
Cracking story, but I have seen so few lady guides/rangers .
This is wonderful! Can you tell us more about the Conservation Academy? How is it the same or different from the Tracker Academy? Congrats to Nasreen!
Well done Nasreen, may you keep going on until you have reached your goal. So glad that ladies are also becoming conservationists, although it has always been a man’s career in the past. The future is now for ladies as well, in conservation and guiding. You have achieved a lot, keep on going Nasreen. Congratulations to you.
Oh, how nice that EcoTraining is still running! In 2002-2003 I did the 4-weeks training on EP, which I really enjoyed. I know the camp isn’t there anymore and they have new camps. Please say hello from me to Lex and colleagues!
And great that Nasreen is going for the FGASA 2, well done and keep going!!
Thanks to the GWF for giving Nasreen this fantastic opportunity to excel in a field that was not for woman. Well done Nasreen ! Wishing you everything ..and more.. of what you deserve through your hard work and enthusiasm. 🙏🏻💕
The GWF is doing great work, and huge congratulations to Nasteen on her accomplishments. Looking forward to her doing big things in the future!!