A journey through Africa | Where your focus goes, your energy flows
Wine country in South Africa is proving to be a wonderful spot to rest my nervous system, after a flurry of people, experiences, and travel in Rwanda.
As I write this post I am currently taking in the landscape of rolling farmlands covered with vineyards, based in the wine country of South Africa, where it is honestly hard to have a care in the world. My whirlwind tour of Rwanda in the month of August feels a million miles away, but my heart and mind are still digesting the insights and lessons of the connections and experiences that defined that visit. And this feels like the perfect place to take a moment to pause, review, and re-consider the path forward, letting my inner light be a compass.
One of the quotes that has served as a North Star when I am in the middle of a career or life transition has been a quote from David Whyte’s poem “Sweet Darkness: ”Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your aloneness to learn anything or anyone that does not bring you alive is too small for you.”
Historically, when I move towards certain things and feel a lack of resonance, I can default to concluding that there is something wrong with me. I also have had a pattern of “playing to the level” of the person or environment that I am in, which in some ways can be a great strength, but also can be an incredible liability. In my experience of returning to Rwanda, as I re-visited certain relationships and projects, I attempted to be much more neutral and objective in my assessment of “fit,” paying attention to the messages that were presenting themselves about where to best direct my energy moving forward.
Up close and personal with the natural wonders of this place! This chance meeting was on a boat ride during my visit to Akagera Game Park.
Attending the Business of Conservation Conference hosted by the Africa Leadership University was the most energizing part of my visit, due to the conversation about the opportunities across the continent for the “wildlife economy” to thrive with many different voices weighing in on the topic: Investors, Non-Governmental Organizations, Civil Service Organizations, Eco-Tourism Operations, Academics, etc.
Pan-Africanism, the idea that peoples of African descent have common interests and should be unified, was an overarching spirit of the event, while also highlighting the strengths and opportunities different countries have through a Wildlife Economy Investment Index. There was also a recognition that cross-sector approaches and solutions will be essential for the biodiversity of the continent to be preserved.
In terms of opportunities that exist within the “wildlife economy” I came into the event aware of eco-tourism and nature-based as one avenue, but the conference helped me understand better the limitations of this as a solution, due to concerns about over tourism and it’s environmental impacts.
Therefore, we discussed other commercial activities that can fund conservation efforts across the continent including:
Sustainable Hunting and Wildlife Management: Of course this one is controversial, but it was discussed that there are opportunities for carefully regulated trophy hunting, hunting for the sake of ecosystem management (managing overpopulated species), and hunting with a focus on food production (focus on sustainable use of wildlife for subsistence).
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs): Harvesting and trading non-timber forest products, such as medicinal plants, honey, and other natural products, present economic opportunities that can contribute to the wildlife economy. My new friend Gus, the Plant Hunter, could not stop talking about the health benefits of Baobab.
Biodiversity Offsetting: Both carbon credits and biodiversity credits are mechanisms aimed at promoting conservation and sustainable practices while providing economic incentives, though it was discussed that governments should get more involved in setting the protocols and limits that minimize harm, and address current issues of credibility.
Technology and Innovation in Conservation: The use of technology, such as drones, satellite monitoring, and data analytics, can enhance conservation efforts, anti-poaching measures, and sustainable wildlife management. I was inspired by the cutting edge technology, EarthRanger, being used by Africa Parks at Akagera game park to support wildlife management.
Meeting people from across the continent who all shared a passion for conservation activities that creates benefit for both nature and humans was truly inspiring!
Within this conversation was a consistent theme around asking how can local communities benefit from the wildlife economy, and be included in this ripe opportunity that exists across the continent? As an example, Rwanda has implemented a Revenue Sharing Program, which aims to channel 10% of the proceeds from tourism activities in national parks back to local communities. Community members have the opportunity to “pitch” project ideas that they believe will add a meaningful contribution to the well-being of local residents, ranging from infrastructure development, education, healthcare, or other initiatives. I did not get as much visibility into how other countries across Africa have implemented similar measures to ensure financial gain is distributed.
Participating in discussions at the conference felt expansive because I was engaged in operating at the intersections of different countries, cultures, and sectors, and upon reflection, it felt clear that is important in my next step. In Seattle I transcended my Human Resources work at an organizational level, and started looking at workforce development at a city-wide level, developing relationships across education, industry, non-profits, and government. During my work with the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture, I started looking at ecosystems at a country level, considering the impacts of policy, partnerships, and philanthropy. And now I am curious about what it might look like to work across borders more intentionally, where mutual benefit can be created through cross-cultural and cross-sector partnerships.
The conference included a personal tour by a student of the Africa Leadership University campus, a school designed around young people’s agency and autonomy as changemakers on the continent, with a focus on "missions" not "majors."
It is also true that a theme of my trip to Rwanda is that I can’t really escape my draw to higher education. I began and ended my trip with a higher education institution, both of whom are trying to fill a gap traditional university models are failing to address (experiential education, leadership-focused education, cultural context-driven education, and entrepreneurship-focused education), and see the growing youth population in Africa as an opportunity and not a threat to the continent. Additionally, one of the conference sessions that inspired me most was about how to prepare the next generation of African leaders to spearhead the conservation activities across the continent.
Sometimes we grow disenchanted with systems, structures, and need to take a break from them only to discover that our heart can’t really leave them behind. Because we see the challenges, we are the ones who are meant to be part of the reform, innovation, and necessary changes. As I sat at Red Rocks Institute for Sustainable Development and mingled with a travel writer from Australia, and a social media specialist from South Africa who was on a #vanlife tour of the continent, sharing a bit of my story, it was reflected back to me, “It is clear that your heart is still in education,” and with that comment, tears filled my eyes. It is amazing the power of being seen, especially by people who have little context for your life.
And it is with those insights that I have made my way to South Africa, which apparently is the country in Africa that is leading the charge on the continent in wildlife management and biodiversity conservation. It is a place where I first studied abroad in 2003, investigating the before, during, and after of apartheid through a historical and political lens. At the time Nelson Mandela was the epitome of leadership to me. I read his autobiography twice, and wrote my Senior Honors Thesis on the significance of his ability to see the humanity in all, the oppressor and the oppressed, and as a result, build the right bridges to shift the power structures of a deeply unequal society. My curiosity led me back, to see how his legacy continues to unfold…to be continued.
