Within the framework of the Pre-Professional Internship Programme of the Leadership Program for Conservation of Mozambique (PLCM), two young people have been standing out for their significant contributions to strengthening conservation and environmental education in Chimanimani National Park and its buffer zone.

Osbone Maquival, who holds a Master’s degree in Mathematical Sciences from the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in Rwanda, has been a key player in revitalising the Conservation Room at Sussundenga Secondary School. Thanks to his commitment, the space once again hosts weekly environmental education sessions, with more than 20 students participating in each class, addressing topics related to biodiversity conservation. Osbone also boosted the digital presence of the Conservation Room by creating its official TikTok account, used to creatively and engagingly promote awareness and conservation activities among young people.

In addition, he is preparing an Advanced Excel training course for the park’s technicians, contributing to strengthening the technical capacity of the team and demonstrating, in practice, the added value of interns in Conservation Areas.

“It has been a challenging and enriching experience. Being able to use digital tools to engage young people in environmental issues is something that motivates me every day. I believe we are laying the foundations for a new generation that is more aware and active in conservation,” shared Osbone.

Meanwhile, Nilza Figo, who holds a degree in Communication Sciences from the School of Journalism (Chimoio branch), stands out for producing educational content for the park’s digital platforms and creating informative posters. Recently, together with Osbone and in partnership with Sussundenga community radio, she has been promoting awareness programmes about environmental commemorative dates, strengthening the outreach of conservation messages among local communities.

“The internship has been an opportunity to apply my knowledge in communication in a real context with a direct impact on communities. Community radio allows us to reach more people and make conservation a part of their daily lives,” highlighted Nilza.

The Administrator of Chimanimani National Park, Leonel Massicame, emphasised the positive impact of the participation of these young people in the park’s initiatives, underlining the importance of ensuring continuity of the activities initiated, through the appointment of a dedicated focal point and the creation of sustainable conditions for maintaining the Conservation Room.

The experience of Nilza and Osbone illustrates that investing in youth can strengthen the management of Conservation Areas and inspire a new generation of leaders committed to biodiversity conservation. This outcome, driven by the PLCM Programme funded by the Government of Sweden through the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND, shows that young talents can enhance the management of conservation areas in Mozambique while promoting the emergence of new leaders dedicated to biodiversity protection.