International Women’s Day with our Conservation Partners

Valerie Akuredusenge,
Program Director, Conservation Heritage – Turambe (CHT)

1. Can you tellus about your role?
   My name is Valerie Akuredusenge, and I am the Program Director of Conservation Heritage – Turambe (CHT), a local non-governmental organization based in Musanze District, Northern Province in Rwanda, Central Africa.
   Over the past 19 years, I have been dedicated to teaching schoolchildren and community members living near Volcanoes National Park about conservation and health, ensuring that they live in harmony with the endangered mountain gorillas and their habitat. I lead diverse community engagement campaigns, events, and initiatives to save wildlife, including education programs, Kwita Izina Tennis Tournaments, 3K Gorilla Fun Runs, a one-month campaign on hygiene and environmental protection, Connecting Children to Nature, the Save My Wildlife From Home Initiative, tree planting, and more.
   I am always eager to reach out to more communities in my country, teach them about their surroundings, discover challenges, and find solutions together. So far, I have reached out to thousands of community members through awareness campaigns and initiatives such as tree planting, local livelihood projects (providing alternatives to what people source from the mountain gorillas’ habitat), and human security support (providing health insurance, building toilets, housing, and more). These efforts aim to ensure that local communities around the endangered mountain gorillas’ habitat are safe, just like the mountain gorillas themselves.
2. How did you get started?
   I began my journey as a translator and community guide for a tour operator, Amahoro Tours, taking tourists to various local attractions in my country. From there, I developed a deep love for conservation. In 2006, I became a translator and executive assistant at a well-known non-profit organization that operated in Rwanda for over six years. I translated and taught conservation and health lessons in schools. In 2013, I became the Program Director of Conservation Heritage – Turambe, and I have been in this role ever since. I absolutely love the work I do! “Doing what you like is a passion. Doing what you don’t like is stress.” “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
3. What are you most passionate about?
   I am passionate about working with my community, educating, empowering, and inspiring them to take action to save our local wildlife and the planet we live on for future generations.
4. What advice would you give to young women aspiring to work in your field?
   I would advise young women aspiring to work in my field to follow their passion and pursue what interests them the most. If they truly love and enjoy what they want to do, I encourage them to be resilient and persevere. Making a difference does not happen overnight; they need to stay committed for a long time, deal with challenges along the way, and strive to overcome them successfully. Building a strong network, fostering relationships, and choosing excellent mentors to guide them in their careers are also essential. With these elements in place, they will succeed!
5. Who is a woman who inspires you and why?
   Several women have inspired me throughout my conservation journey. However, I am primarily inspired by Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. She empowered women through tree planting and environmental education. Additionally, I am inspired by the work of Dian Fossey and her dedication to saving mountain gorillas.
6. If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
   I would say that all animals are my favorite! But if I had to choose one, it would be the mountain gorilla. Mountain gorillas are unique, fascinating, and human-like. If I could be any animal, I would be a gorilla because I would contribute to my nation’s economy through tourism revenues. Moreover, I could provide people with leisure and contribute to their well-being.
7. What’s on your bucket list this year?
   This year, I plan to continue educating, empowering, and inspiring my community through various initiatives. To achieve this, I will strengthen partnerships and collaborations with different stakeholders, both inside and outside the country, to maximize the impact we are making.
   I am also working to engage other women in my country through skill development and capacity building. Women will be trained on environmental protection and the development of eco-friendly initiatives and solutions. This year, I aim to reach a wider audience with community resilience initiatives such as tree nursery establishment, smart agriculture, and the development of off-farm activities for community members adjacent to the mountain gorillas’ habitat, especially women and children who are most affected by climate change crises in the region.

Jessica Kamatenesi,
Field Veterinarian, Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Alliance (RWCA) 

1. Can you tell us about your role?
   My name is Dr. Jessica Kamatenesi, and I am a Field Veterinarian at the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association (RWCA). My role involves providing veterinary care for the endangered Grey Crowned Cranes (GCC) and other wildlife species, responding to veterinary emergencies, and collaborating with key stakeholders such as the Rwandan government and Rwanda’s national parks to provide essential veterinary support for wild animals both inside and outside the national parks.
2. How did you get started?
   I was born and raised in a pastoral family that depended on cattle living near Rwanda’s natural reserves and parks, specifically in the eastern province near Akagera National Park. Growing up, I witnessed frequent conflicts between wildlife, livestock, and humans, which sparked my curiosity about animal health and conservation. At the time, I didn’t know how I could help, but I was drawn to veterinary medicine and it ignited a passion for wildlife conservation.
   One of my challenges I faced was when my father doubted my decision to pursue veterinary medicine, believing it was a career meant for men. However, I remained committed to my dream. Today, I am inspired everyday by my work in wildlife conservation through veterinary intervention
3. What are you most passionate about?
   I am deeply passionate about wildlife health and conservation. Every time I save an animal, I feel like I am living my dream. Being part of an organization that strives for excellence in wildlife health is incredibly fulfilling, and I am motivated every day by the positive impact we make in protecting Rwanda’s rich biodiversity.
4. What advice would you give to young women aspiring to work in your field?
   I have worked hard to show other young women that if I can do it, they can too. Gender should never stand in the way of passion or purpose. I believe that with determination, resilience, and a strong support system, women can thrive in wildlife conservation and veterinary medicine.I would say to her, that passion is everything. Without deep love for wildlife, it’s difficult to thrive in this field. This is a male dominate field and you have to earn your spot. Do not allow yourself to be anyone’s shadow or feel intimidated. You are capable and you can do it if you set your mind to it.
5. Who is a woman who inspires you and why?
   I learn valuable lessons from everyone I meet, but my mother was the person who truly inspired my journey. She always encouraged me to follow my heart, reminding me, “You can do whatever you set your mind to”. While Most of my family wasn’t very supportive of my decision to be a vet, but my mom believed in me and her support shaped me into the vet I am today. Additionally, during my time at Houston Zoo, I was deeply inspired by Dr. Maryanne. Seeing her continue to practicing veterinary medicine at an older age made me realize that I, too, want to dedicate my life to saving wildlife for as long as I can.

6. 

   What’s your favorite animal and why? 
   My favorite animal is Grey Crowned Cranes. I may be a bit biased because I have the privileged of working with them every single day. Funny enough, I have learned a lot from those beautiful birds. They are elegant, loyal and incredibly loving to each other. I admire their spirit of love and positivity. I hope that everyone I get to meet can feel the love radiating off of me.

7. What’s on your bucket list this year?
   This year, I am focusing on my Master’s in Conservation Medicine and learning how to apply my studies to enhance my work in the field. On a personal level note, I am on a fitness journey and hope to gain 5 more kilograms this year.
8. What’s your biggest hurdle?
   As a woman in a male-dominated field, I’ve had to work harder to prove myself, but I see this as an opportunity to pave the way for more women in wildlife conservation. During interventions, I often find myself as the only woman on the field. In a world where some women are given roles just for the sake of inclusion, I want to be known for my competence and excellence. I have made it my mission to be an example that women are fully capable of becoming competent and efficient wildlife veterinarians in Rwanda.
9. What does it mean to you to be the only active female wildlife veterinarian in Rwanda?
   While it is an honor, it also saddens my heart to find myself in this position. However, I am filled with hope when I see a number of young women pursing internships in wildlife veterinary medicine in Rwanda. I know of three young women and one will soon be apprenticing and interning with us here at RWCA. I hope to actively engage with all three, share experiences and challenges, and hopefully watch them thrive in the conservation field.