IN THE FIELD

SAWC keeps in touch with their alumni and it is always interesting to see where they end up, and what skills they have learnt at the college they are now using in their everyday jobs.


In August 2008, Toyota sponsored a major outreach program to visit ex-students in their parks which took the form of a convoy of 4WD travelling across Africa visiting peace parks and their staff.


In the Field | Toyota logo [© 2009 Peace Parks]This conservation outreach had three main objectives.



  • Firstly, to meet with past students and evaluate the impact the College training has made on their career and how it is aiding them and their organisation.
  • Secondly, to identify training needs on the ground, as well as ways in which the College can improve its offering to southern African wildlife organisations.
  • Thirdly, to create awareness of the Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA) and to recruit past students as members of this association.

The team consisted of 10 GRAA members, one SAWC member, one doctor, six logistical crew members (vehicle handymen and kitchen staff), one IT expert, one Toyota representative and a number of radio and television journalists.


The group travelled through Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana and met with ex-students, park officials and government representatives, finding along the way the incredible work being done on the ground to build and maintain conservation areas and working on cross border issues like poaching. Many ex-students are now working in the same parks, or dealing with their fellow alumni across parks, and their mutual training and understanding has meant a greater efficiency and smoother working relationships.


The Outreach project will be repeated in 2009.


FROM THE STUDENTS


William Soko: Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA)

I joined the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Services in 1982. After transformation in to the Zambia Wildlife Authority, I was taken as a senior Wildlife Police Officer.


Peace Parks Foundation sponsored my Certificate Course in Natural Resource Management at the Southern African Wildlife College in 2004. I won the outstanding student of the year DISTELL award at the end of the course and was again offered a scholarship into the Diploma course by the Southern African Conservation Education Trust (SACET) in 2005.


I was promoted to the rank of the park Ranger upon returning home and sent to the Lukosuzi and Kasungu TFCA. In 2007 I was transferred to Lower Zambezi Area Management Unit as Ranger Operations. My responsibilities include planning and supervising Operations in the Unit which has 117 Wildlife police Officers. I also attend to human animal conflicts in the unit and ensure stakeholder participation and involvement in conservation and planning of the units activities.


Clearly all the changes and progress that I have achieved is due to the skills that I attained at the Southern African Wildlife College. Thank you to Peace Parks and SACET for allowing me to attend this prestigious College.


May I take this opportunity to thank all of them for helping change my life and of my organisation for the better


Stephan Malungo: Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA)

I was trained in Natural Resource Management, diploma in 2005.


First and foremost, I would like to register my heartfelt appreciation to SAWC and Peace Parks Foundation (PPF) for their generosity for making my dream come true.


After undergoing my Diploma Course in Natural Management, I am now happily employed as an Area Warden for Mosi-Oa-Tunya Area management unit. My hard work both at the college and back home in the field as operations Ranger for Lower Zambezi Area Management unit, including strong recommendations I got from the college, prompted ZAWA Management to consider me for promotion as Area Warden.


I am now in charge of one of Zambia's unique and most busy National Parks with ever increasing challenges. For me trained at SAWC, these challenges are not a threat as SAWC armed me with all the necessary skills to manage them.


My Unit has a total work force of 83 employees, I directly supervise five departmental heads namely research, operations, accounts, prosecutions and CBNRM.


Lastly, for those of us who want to join the rest of the world in conserving and managing our Natural Heritage, SAWC is the solution.


Patricia Kalipa: Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA)

I am Patricia Kalipa from Sioma-Ngwezi National Park working for Zambia Wildlife Authority.


I joined the Department of National Parks and Wildlife services in 1987. In 2004 I was sponsored by Peace Parks Foundation to go and attend a certificate course in South Africa at the Southern African Wildlife College. I managed to obtain a certificate in Natural Resource Management. In 2006 I went back to SAWC for Diploma in Natural Resource Management. After my diploma I went back to Sioma-Ngwezi National Park. In June 2007 I was promoted as a park Ranger, in the same year that's 2007, I went to Nyamaluma College in South Lwangwa for Unit leaders course. On 16th July 2008 I went to Southern African Wildlife College for special short course that is CBNRM and I was the only lady who attended this course. I tell its really nice to be at this college because we gain more knowledge and skills than at the other colleges. It is really fruitful. I really appreciate all the people who have let ZAWA turn me into a precious tool who can be used in the organisation.


May all the showers of blessings from GOD fall on the people who have assisted me (Sponsors, ZAWA and my husband)


Thank you.


Kwanele Kanegoni: Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife

In 2002, I was awarded a scholarship to study at SAWC. I had a chance to meet with students from different countries with different conservation background and that is where my achievement started. At the end of the year I attained a certificate course in Natural Resource Management. As a research assistant working for the Department of National Parks in Zimbabwe, in recognition for my certificate I was upgraded to a Warden Scientific Services and deployed in Hwange National Park in 2004. In 2005 I was once more awarded a bursary to study a Diploma in Natural Resource Management at the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) which I successfully completed.


In 2006 July I was transferred to Victoria Falls National Park where I am running the station on my own and am now a Senior Wildlife Officer/Park Manager. The station has so many challenges due to the juxtaposition with Victoria Falls Town, however I have managed to do my job due to the training and skills I received at the Southern African Wildlife College.


The only way to properly manage a Park is to involve the Community - that is what we learnt at the college.


Many thanks to SAWC and keep up the good work and save the African Biodiversity for the world.