Catholic Entity Facilitates Further Studies for Youth “to protect Rwanda’s biodiversity”

They say that besides presentation of biodiversity initiatives, the candidates who are between 25 to 35 years also had to give an explanation on how effective they will be to the community at the end of the training.

With funding from Trócaire and Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA), the officials of the Irish Catholic charity say that “the students will receive tuition fees and costs for food and accommodation”.

As part of the program, Trócaire leadership says, “the students will also volunteer during school holidays with BIOCOOR and Ecovillage to work on conservation projects and eco-tourism initiatives.”

Trócaire notes that the further studies opportunity is being realized at a time when there is so much straining between humans and nature not only in Rwanda but also across the globe. 

In the report, the Executive Director of BIOCOOR expresses his excitement in witnessing the “students become future leaders in conservation and tourism” through the initiative.

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“I am confident that the investment done by Trócaire and JOA in providing scholarships to the youth around Nyungwe National Park is a wise strategy that will sustain the accomplishments of the conservation projects in and around this tropical rain forest rich in biodiversity,” Ange Imanishimwe is quoted as saying.

Mr. Imanishimwe adds, “I hope to see these students becoming the future leaders in conservation and tourism and giving back to their communities and ending both poaching and extreme poverty around this protected area in the Southwestern Rwanda.”

Laurence Uwimana, a beneficiary of the program told Trócaire that her passion is to empower women in the biodiversity sector.

“I was very happy to win this scholarship and I can assure everyone that after graduation I will play a wide role in conservation, especially through empowering women and training them to know better their role in the protection and conservation of biodiversity,” Ms. Uwimana is quoted as saying. 

Nowa Niyonizeye, also a beneficiary of the program told Trócaire that his childhood dream of “working in the eco-tourism sector” has been fulfilled through his selection for further studies in the program.

He says, “I have always been committed to creating positive change in my community. I am now feeling grateful to be a part of this program supported by JOA and Trócaire and I can’t wait to graduate and go back to help my community.” 

The report makes reference to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) indicating that “humans are overexploiting wild species and habitats”.

“Harmful activities, including habitat destruction, poor farming practices and pollution, have altered ecosystems significantly, driving many species past the point of recovery,” the July 13 report indicates.

The report further indicates that “Rwanda’s economic and social well-being is strongly linked to natural resources, underpinned by its biological diversity”, and that the majority of the people are dependent on “these biological resources for their livelihoods, including agriculture, forestry, and tourism”.

“Rwanda’s geographic location along the Albertine Rift bestows rich biological diversity across a variety of biomes,” Trócaire leadership says, and adds, “From the volcanic mountain ranges in the west to the lowland forests, woodlands, and grasslands towards the east, Rwanda is endowed with biodiversity.”

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They add that the “four national parks, natural forests, and wetlands which cover nearly 10% of the national territory form the backbone for biodiversity protection.”

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.