In the month of February 2021, we embarked on our Y4N Spotlight Series. On this feature, we hosted Mr. Chile Kangwa, a youth leader from the southern African country of Zambia, to understand more about his story and his organisation, action for nature. Below is the conversation Chile had with our Regional Director for Africa:
Kaluki: Hello, and welcome to our Youth4Nature, spotlight series, an Africa focused project that hopes to highlight and, um, highlight the amazing works youth are doing in the region and to share these stories, uh, on our platforms and with the world. The Youth4Nature spotlight series, project seeks, to offer a platform for young people in the global South to share their stories, stories of them as activists, stories of their initiatives and projects, stories of their journeys in community leaderships, and actually have these unique stories, profiled on Youth4Nature's social platforms, as well as linking these youth action to networks that can support the course. The Youth4Nature spotlight series with seek, uh, to bring you monthly live interviews with young leaders from across the world and, and first to start with Africa.
So these youth that we'll be introducing you to, will be advocates for justice, uh,they are icons of hope in their communities. They are champions for better conservation of nature, and they are educators, initiators, collaborators, and definitely they are Changemakers for Africa. And now onto our guest for today's spotlight. I am truly honored as I welcome everyone joining us for this live session. Um, it gives me pleasure. The pleasure of introducing Mr.Chile Kangwa, who is, uh, our special guest for today. So welcome so much Chile.
Chile: Thank you. Thank you very much Paul, it is a pleasure to connect with you yet again, after what happened last week. Um, I'm grateful for being accorded this wonderful opportunity to share my story, and of course to represent and present Action for Nature to the rest of the world, especially young people doing great work, in conserving our common home. I am really privileged to be, uh, here with you, thank you.
Kaluki: Thank you so much, Chile. And as we start the session with Chile please everyone welcoming, uh, or coming on, please. This is a Youth4Nature spotlight series , a project that we are having to put a spotlight on young African change-makers that are doing so much to restore nature, to take action on biodiversity loss, to take climate action at the grassroots and to definitely show what we can do when we put this spotlight out on our platforms.
But first Chile to you, um, would you kindly introduce yourself and tell us more about yourself?
Chile: Thank you so much. Um, I think just like last week, the name hasn't changed. My name is Chile Kangwa. Um, probably just be short of a version of Chilekwa Kangwa. Um, uh, aged 32 uh, born and raised in Africa in the northern part of Zambia, in southern Africa. Um, Uh, I'm a second born in a family of eight, of course the only person that has taken this, uh, these part of, uh, nature conservation. I am the founder and CEO of Action for Nature, and I have done these almost the half of my life. So obviously something that I am, not just something that I do, but something that yearn as part of my life. So I do it with all the passion and, um, with every bit of every choice that I make every day.
And so, um, where we are based in the Muchinga province of zambia, which is the gateway to East Africa, uh, sharing borders with Tanzania. Uh, you know, uh, on the part of the Momba disctrict Tunduma border as famously known. Um, so, um, we started, I started, I founded Action for Nature in 2015 and got registered and approved by the government in 2019. And so, um, our work focuses so much on the conservation of the ecosystem uh, on the habitat, uh, of course notwithstanding what really contributes and what adds a lot of pressure on the ecosystem, which is poverty or livelihood.
Uh, and so they encompass, uh, within the, uh, the dream to conserve nature. And the issue to do with livelihood and poverty eradication. As well as taking care of the diversity of humanity, people and culture, preserving the cultural heritages of our people.
Speaking of being Africans, we have certain heritages and cultural values that make them African, and so we encompass what would be seen as single similarities interlocking together. Thank you.
Kaluki: Oh, thank you so much for that Chile. And I actually, I think they say wise men, go ahead of their time and I think you've already gone ahead of your time, because we're just about to follow up with that question of, you know, you being, um, a founder of action for nature.
Um, would you maybe just in one minute or so, you know, expound more about these initiatives and what, uh, what inspired you to start it? Um, as a young person in Zambia.
Chile: Thank you very much Paul. Um, note as I mentioned earlier, yeah, I was, I was born in the village and raised in the village I was at the time when I was born, I found a very, you know, a lot of speaking, a lot of the forest and a lot of water flowed from the spring.
So half of my life, I think even before I went to secondary school, much of these resources had been depleted, due to human activity. uh, everyone would be aware, especially I think for sake of the young ones who might be a little bit younger than we are. I think Africa is one of the continents in the world that has so much dependent for centuries and centuries on the natural resources for survival. Africa,as a continent, and, uh, in fact we could put into context on true focus the third, uh, world country like Zambia for instance. , uh, you know, where, uh, uh, you know, farming and subsistence farming has been the biggest and the major industry, uh, out of which people then, earn a living And so the agricultural activities have basically enabled humans and provide, and their survival for as long as everyone could remember. In most areas of my country, there's never been any industry, there has never been any production of any kind, apart from agriculture itself as the major industry, for people's survival, for people, economic development. And, and so, uh, th the biggest, the biggest thing that really caused me that prompted me to think Action for Nature to think action, is that just, uh, you know, uh, thinking, uh, Oh, bearings or learning ,is the fact that I concluded that at the earliest urge, that I think what is causing all these catastrophes, is actually the human, um, you know, activities. When we tackle human activities in the sense of conservation and environment, we're talking about destructive human activities, such as unsustainable agriculture, such as, you know, uh, cutting down of trees and unsustainable forest harvest. Okay...what we're talking about the lack of awareness, the ignorance of environmental benefits, you know, uh, of the people. We live in communities, I grew up in communities where people do not understand anything about the values and the benefits of the environment.
They think what they do is as good and as natural as humanity itself, without understanding the damages and the risks that human activity causes, but only to the environment, but also to their own survival. Because Environment and human survival is interlocked. Humans depend on the environment, the environment doesn't depend on humanity. No. And so what prompted me is the fact that our people are still in ignorance of what the values of environments are and what their responsibility is, that they should basically apply and making sure that the environment continues to thrive, and you know, provide for them through human activities such as agriculture. Amongst that is the entire and, you know, economic progress and human progress, we depend on entirely.
Kaluki: Mnh… Great, I mean, that's an amazing story, Chile. And I feel like, um, it's not even unique to you. For most people in Africa that actually trying to start these initiatives is because there's been that gap is that agency to try to bring in every voice and to create this awareness for our communities, that some of the things that they do are they're doing it maybe out of ignorance, but for us as young people, we're actually seeing the opportunities therein to educate them and start some sustainable livelihoods, some, uh, sustainable, you know, programs to ensure that we drive out the ignorance while also helping people be better custodians of nature rather. And that brings us sort of to the next question for you Chile. Um, having started this, um, group, as, you know, as a young person in Africa, uh, you know, what are some of the works that you've been able to do with your, with your constituents and with the communities that you represent?
Chile: Thank you so much Paul. Being young in Africa, being young in Africa until now, into this era has been quite huge a challenge, I should say. It was never easy to be young and to be vibrant. and you know, to be visionary because, uh, way before now, young people were basically considered inferiors of society. Like the kind of age that most had nothing to contribute to sustainably to a number of sectors in a particular country. Uh, but right now as we speak you and being young and visionary in this era is such a wonderful opportunity to change the world because the world has opened up to recognise and there are statues there are policies that are actually speaking on our behalf , advocating for our space to do good and to do it all. And, and therefore, uh, from the time that we started we established action for nature, I am using the term we deliberately because, uh, having ,brought forward this idea doesn't actually make me a stand alone candrered individual, basically willing to do, what it takes to save the environment, uh, I joined in compounded by a number of like-minded people, young people of course especially women. All from the start-up have actually shown keen interest and have taken up the time, and I've been running along with it to ensure that we reach the highest level we are in today. Some of the things basically that we've been able to do, is probably on the path of raising awareness, especially in rural communities where the Chitemene system, a common local name of cutting down of trees and this outset, for lack of a better thing, um, unsustainable cutting down of trees is so rampant and, you know, uh, so, so bad to the point where when you go into the areas you would shed tears at how much nature and the environment is degraded. And so we have worked so tirelessly, especially in specific constituencies to ensure that, uh, we raise awareness on the sustainable way of engaging and harvesting and using, uh, you know, our, the natural resources such as land, such as forestry, and such as, um, wetlands.
This is just one Avenue through which we're basically making an impact on the ground; is to basically raise awareness, because this is important - awareness is simply like casting of knowledge about what really matters in the community and society. And so to this particular point, our people have basically come to a realization and many more are waking up to this reality, that basically what they have been doing, and that what has caused and pushed into the dire situations such as global warming and climate change, is nothing , uh, you know, uh, nothing else, uh, but the human activities and stuff, such as unsustainable agricultural practices and unsustainable harvesting of forest resources, such as our trees and, uh, wetlands. Apart from just raising awareness, we are also chipping in to provide, you know, scientific evidence on the sustainable ways. And, uh, that could basically offer, you know, about, uh, 80% guarantee for an improved yield and productivity for our small-scale farmers, especially in rural areas, where farming is actually the, uh, only career, uh for survival and economic progress, and so , we work closely together ministry of uh, you know, uh, ministry of agriculture, and ministry of fisheries and livestock, to try and give skills to smallholder producers, you know, that enables them basically to begin to shift from unsustainable agricultural practices to a more sustainable agricultural practices such as, you know, livestock keeping and fisheries, or aquaculture . These are some of the, um, you know, approaches that we've basically taken and models , through which we're making so much huge impact in trying to push people away from dependency, uh, on the, uh, forestry and unsustainable land use, as well as wetlands.
As we do that, we also encompass these with all the conservation education on the importance of, you know, the local people, the indigenous people, people to sustainably conserve and get involved in the conservation of the forests and the environment generally that is around them. Further than, that, than the livelihood, you know, uh, skills and interventions we also basically are prepared to launch the conservation education in primary schools, and also in local community, this is in quest into, uh, uh, you know, uh, the best knowledge on the management of the environment into the young people. Uh, and using the schools as, uh, you know, the best, uh, agents of change. And this is basically working so much where it's happening for the first time, in our region. Uh, other than that, we are also conservation of watersheds. Much of the depleted streams still remain very important and vital to these communities, uh, you know, where they basically exist. Because these are communities where people are still leaving, but then there is a problem to some extent, some of the springs and rivers have dried up completely , but there are those also that are partially, you know, uh, dry, that if properly taken care of, in terms of their shed, the watershed, they could basically get rejuvenated and be able to continue to provide fresh drinking water to the communities around , but we are a taking this as a very immediate intervention, as we look forward to,. you know, um, getting a lot of support in terms of finances, you know, other organization, uh, domestic and, and foreign, you know, development agencies and organizations to support our cause and to ensure that we step up, uh, you know, uh, um, Uh, we step up our operations and our interventions to go into more, uh, you know, communities around our constituency and also the province and , probably impacting Zambia and outside our country.
Kaluki: Wow! Wow! Wow! That definitely sounds like a lot that action for nature is doing.
And definitely really seeing leadership coming from you and the rest of the team that are really helping you realize some of these projects, so amazing. I think. We can already hear some of the aspects into what is going into youth organizing and mobilizing for successful implementation of, um, you know, projects in communities and for all of you that are joining again, welcome to this session.
Um, you know, we're having a youth spotlight series. Uh, featuring our first guest for the series. Mr. Chile was the founder of action for nature based in Zambia. And you’re just hearing about the many things that they are doing to restore nature, to create awareness in communities, to conduct biodiversity education , to educate young people and many, many other programs that they're commissioning as an organization.
And that brings us to the next transition Chile, you know, there's no way you can do all these things without any challenges. So do you mind alluding to some of the challenges that you people have been facing while implementing some of these projects?
Chile: Um, I think, uh, the major challenge always, uh, especially in Africa has always been issues of, uh, uh, you know policies, especially on the part of the, uh, the NGO world or the philanthropy industry in Africa, I think, uh, that, Zambia like many other Africa countries do not have uh,, you know, fundamental policies that really provides for that compared to the government, you know, to increase support to the non-governmental organisations in the national budget and, and, and so, uh, uh, as much as the idea a bit of what need it could be, you know, to start up something with the potential to conserve nature, to eradicate poverty, improve economic uh, you know, development in the country, and many other good things. They always find difficulty basically, especially on the part of finance. And so from the time that action for nature basically started compounded by the pandemic that basically, you know, uh, uh, kicked in almost when we just kickstarted, crippled almost the number of efforts that we had just made, uh, to try and bring in money from different donors and supporters from around the globe. Uh, and these, uh resulted into action for nature not being able to receive feedback, because people went into lockdown and to some extent the priorities of donors also shifted a much of their resource and attention, uh, basically rooted to that, uh, health benefits due to the pandemic. And of course not, uh, leaving out the access. There is no, so far there's no policy that domesticates supports for NGO in Africa. And to find that in a country where, uh, when we get stranded we never received no support from within the country because the issue of giving in Africa is not incorporated into law, there is no policy that compels, uh, you know, uh, companies and corporations therefore to give to charities as the case may be, they can give or they cannot give, basically at their discretion and preference to or not to give to, uh, NGOs. And the other challenge also has been being young. Okay. And then, you know, um, setting up such a very big, uh, organization, you know, uh, the challenge has actually been, how do we convince people. Okay. how do we get, especially our name out there as we market our organization, how can we get the voice about what we are doing out there for the world to at least catch a glimpse of what we have going on down here and how they can be able to help. How do we set up the website .I mean, how do we set up the bank account in order for people from, you know, around to be able to forward their support. I mean, how do we convince bigger organisations to embrace working with us, to partner with us and involve us into their activities, so we can develop our capacity, uh, operational capacity and management capacity, and so on and so forth. So these have been our challenges that we continue to hope to respond to, however progress is being made, and we have, been able to stand the test of time speaking of the fact that in the the first couple years we are into the third year now and uh, in the face of all these challenges we continue to aspire to make greater progress, yeah, as we speak, basically we got our website, almost getting published. We're just, uh, finishing up ,developing the donation uh, page their website, which is definitely going to be published probably by the end of this week or very early next week. so as to help us and help our supporters out there to have the confidence to support, uh, this wonderful cause.
Kaluki: Exactly, Chile. And you, I really love that you. well packaged these challenges uh, I know there are many people listening from this conversation and you'll also get maybe a chance to listen to it later. And I sort of want to give you a golden moment here, right. To pitch your story to the world. So if I was to maybe ask you this question in 30 seconds, how, how do you think people will support? Why do you think people will support your initiative in 30 seconds?
Chile: Thank you very much, Paul. Um, uh, being from Africa and being in Africa, This is one of the reasons that, uh, people must take interest and support us. Because Africa apparently is the only continent that is still supporting the global ecosystem it is the only continent that still has a lot of forest resources, apparently. The rest of the world is getting steeply depleted . Okay. In terms of forestry. when we look at the statistics, truth will speak for itself that Africa deserves so much support, and especially young people, those that have basically taken the moment to take interest into conservation of the environment truly deserve the uh, support Let's look at this for a moment, uh, um, about 70% of the world population, global population is actually the youth.
And we from this part of the world called Africa, where the research of the forestry is too abandoned that by itself basically gives us a huge responsibility to do more conserving these things, including forests and ecosystems, so that we could continue to, uh, provide the balance in the ecosystem, you know, uh, against, uh, against what is happening in the rest of the world. The other important thing to support us, is that many of the organizations that are operating on the African soil, their interests to some extent are not as indigenous as our interests are. Uh, indeed. Many of the organisations are implementing projects for the sake of implementing, for the sake of just developing and producing the reports. Isn't it? Because I live in a country I live in a society, where there are many bigger organizations, and you find out, that they have basically made very little impact in the life of the environment in the lives, of people, in terms of promoting sustainable livelihoods, and extra other things that basically contribute to the promotion of environmental management. But our interest as, young people is at heart, to, the point where we feel the heat and the risks and the damages of climate change and global warming at heart because we understand we are going to be here 10,20,30...60 years from today and therefore the mandate to conserve nature becomes very supreme. For us, we see it as ugly as it is, and we don't take, you know, comfort in half-baked efforts . . so that we do this today, we don't work to go to sleep. And where tomorrow we take it as an emergency that requires, you know, uh, immediate quality response in terms of uh, attention. Just last year, the village where I come from was submerged into water due to floods. These are some of the hazards of climate change. And so it took a lot of time for the government to basically scout for resources to attend to this crisis, we got John Hopkins to feed the people who were basically now moved from that, from, from the waterfalls to the Highlands. We had to basically set up temporary shelters to house them, and so on, and so forth. And so we need more support to ensure that we give our people a lot of awareness on how and what they should attend to when it comes to settling, when they're looking for space to go and resettle. They must factor in issues of environmental assessment, to ensure that they have the vast knowledge and the awareness, uh, on, uh, on ensuring that, they settle in a manner that is sustainable , and also to keep in mind of the risks and the hazards of climate change, so that we could continue to save especially the most vulnerable, people, uh, from climate change. I, I, of course the children and youth whose lives are actually interrupted, regardless actually longer, and is so much dependent, dependent on these, uh, on the environment. So indeed, people must look in all directions and ensure that they collaborate with us, and when we talk of support, we are not only talking about money. No, we are talking about scientific research technology, we are talking about collaborations and partnerships. To ensure that , the fact that the world is no longer divided. But, but I, but I saw a single global village, I should say. Therefore what is happening in Africa should attract the attention of the Canadians, of the Americans, of the Asian and all over the world to ensure that we conserve this part of the world because at the end of the day, when there is no America, when there is no Canada, when there is no China. at least there would be Africa, which would be happy to house, all humanity. in one instance. So we truly find our tourists, such a wonderful destination, and the best team to work with, so maybe a young driven organization, as well as, uh, international, uh, you know, uh, ordinary , uh, corporations and organization to ensure that we do this together and and do it better. and to ensure that we impact more communities than we are doing now.
Kaluki: Exactly, exactly. And I think that I don't want to preempt and, uh, uh, sort of, you know, make it, uh, lose that meaning. I think Chile is saying it and everyone who's listening has heard him and we definitely need to work with young people and support the initiatives. We need to see them for the future potential that they're holding by already starting this initiative on the ground.
And, you know, we are coming to the end of the session, but I don't want to let Chile go before he gives us some words of wisdom, which he's already been giving for the past a minute. Uh, but, but Chile, if you were to talk to a young African, who is starting an initiative, um, what to do, tell them, are some of the key learnings that you've had, uh, while starting action for nature?
Chile: Thank you very much Paul and obviously this will be my concluding remarks..
Firstly, I would like to commend, outrightly, all young people around the globe in this manner, let's first of all draw this attention to closer home Africa, uh, times and again, we Africans have perpetuated one thing that is lack of coordination, unity and trust. That time, that era, should actually come to and end now . This is an emergency and this is non-negotiable Africans, especially young Africans, must begin to embrace working together, we must begin to cultivate unity and collaborative efforts and interventions.
There is no harm in working together when you are serving a single community. I think one of the things that I have seen more than anything in Africa, is the scenario where people have individual praise and glory. Okay, to want to be celebrated as a single individual. Instead of basically, uh, you know, um, creating a collective effort, collecting power, a collective force to impact a lot of communities.
Time has come for us young Africans to stand and tell ourselves, unite and save our societies in a manner that is sustainable and provide the leadership and we need to develop the courage, to tell our elected leaders, that the policies for our countries must . be policies that are definitely based on what we, the people we the young people feel are environmentally and morally and economically correct. It is about time that we started to stand up to our elected leaders and our governments, and compel them. Compel them to begin to honor. There are obligations to us, the generation that is present, and that is basically for the future. To ensure that this environment that we see is not taken for granted, and that we don't have to wait to take action for tomorrow, but that we do it today and that we need to be given the centerstage, in the political space. in the civic space, in the economic space, and to make and to bring to the table wonderful reforms as young people, because our care 20 years from now, our care, which moves and extends to 60 years in the future. At least we must, about this we must be very, very aggressive. And we must stay true to these, and our calls must be very, very clear. And it should actually come now, uh, in the end, I should implore and of course encourage all Africans, all African young people who are basically beginning to set up, who are waking up to wanting to make change in the communities where they live. Change must begin from where you are, from right within the household where you are, and then it just begins to come out ,and begin to affect in a positive manner on the community wherever you are.
And so it's not a shame to start small, in fact starting small is the best beginning. But when you begin bigger, you you may lose track of where you started from, therefore start life from where you are, from a very small point, and then you grow, and in the entire process, do not cast your eyes on what the benefits are going to be for you of your life, but take a keen interest on what the benefits of your life are going to be to the community where you live. And so when you begin establishing your institution, make sure that you do not basically build holes, no, be an open-minded leader and ensure that you embrace other people that may have a, you know, a very, you know, um, Good insights on how together you can grow that particular institution, embrace collaboration, thoughtful partnerships, from within the community where you live, and then of course expand to attract more partnerships from , regional, uh, you know, proximity as well as at the, global level.
So you need to be patient and you need to be very enduring and you need to be very focused, you need to be read out. And so it's about just getting it done once we start and we remain consistent and true to what we want to do truly at the end of the day other people will join us and support will come. So I want you to be informed and I went to encourage you to basically keep doing what is best, and let us connect more as Africans. Let us create platforms and let us basically invest programs such as spotlight series that Youth4Nature is actually doing, you know, that is the potential to get our stories, out into the world and bring the bring the world closer by basically inviting people listen to our stories, because a story that that is told and never heard is not a story at all. And so I would also like to thank Youth4Nature for nominating me for the month of as their first nominee, you know, uh, under their spotlight series ,I so much appreciate and on behalf of action for nature . I wish and implore you that you do this to more and cover hundreds of thousands of other young Africans who are hidden in shambles, whose voices, the world is never heard, who are doing you know, wonderful amazing things. Bring them to the surface, get their stories heard surely together. We can build and conserve and protect and manage our natural resources and then keep our ecosystem in balance and ensure that, uh, you know, even natural resources, uh, uh, wholly, you know, taken care of and properly used for the benefit of human progress and sustainable development of our planet.
Thank you very much Paul.
Kaluki: Definitely. Thank you so much Chile. I mean, can you hear from him, and, if you want to get in touch with Chile, please Google them, check them up on Facebook, they are at action for nature. and like Chile also mentioned, the website is coming up soon. So I'm sure you'd be getting more details on their Facebook page. So please do follow action for nature and be part of amplifying their stories and we do commit to already continue amplifying this, but I'm pressed for time. Uh, it's been an amazing past few minutes with Chile. It's been a lot of things that we've been able to learn together, and I really do wish you all the best Chile, and to all our viewers we do. Thank you for the time. that you spent with us. Uh, it's been amazing to see you all and, please stay tuned for more of this ,we'll be, uh, you know, doing this every other month that we hope for you to be part of our journey and to continue listening to what is happening in Africa and what young people are able to bring actually the table.
And last but not least also check us out at www.youth4nature.org, and we just launched our new storytelling campaign. Uh, so just check us out at www.youth4nature.org/storytelling and learn about the new storytelling campaign and how you can be part of it, how you can support our causes, how you can submit your stories and how we can continue effectively impacting for Africa for nature and for the rest of the world.
It's been an honor being with you. And until the next time, please let's promote this Youth4Nature's spotlight series. Let us talk with young people and let us invest in the future. Thank you so much. Bye bye for now!
To get to know more about, support and amplify their work across your networks, please check here Action for Nature on Facebook and their website at www.actionfornature.africa. Follow Youth4Nature on social media to learn more about our upcoming spotlights, coming soon! #Y4NSpotlightSeries