Words by Jodie Stempel, GGF UK Intern.
Meet Shamiso Mupara: local activist with a vision for change for her village in Zimbabwe.
Shamiso and her family grew up in Marange, an area affected by large-scale diamond operations. The village has experienced many political and environmental consequences as a result of diamond mining – including polluted water sources, ailments in local livestock and livelihoods, and rampant deforestation.
Wanting to see a change and a better future for her village, Shamiso and her brother Guyson founded Environmental Buddies, an environmental organization which focuses on reforesting Zimbabwean villages affected by desertification and climate change.
In 2013, the group started planting trees with schools and communities, with an emphasis on educating youth on environmental degradation. In June of this year, Global Greengrants Fund became Environmental Buddies’ first funder ever, supporting their work with a small grant.
Today, Shamiso is building a nursery to raise 5,000 saplings. In addition to planting trees, Environmental Buddies is creating a tree library with 100 different species of indigenous trees that are at risk of becoming extinct. As part of this project, Shamiso and her team plan to create an educational hub so that local communities can learn about these trees and their importance in the wider environmental network, including preserving traditional and ancestral knowledge about medicinal uses from trees, in an area where medical care is often inaccessible.
Shamiso makes it clear that it’s not just about the trees: planting trees facilitates open dialogue on other important concerns in her community, such as advancing opportunities for local women. Incidents of child marriage in the area, like in other parts of Zimbabwe, are high, leaving girls unable to finish school. Environmental Buddies has developed activities in response to the local context which tackle social problems and simultaneously protect the environment. Initiatives such as the Beading Project, where young girls learn how to make and sell jewelry out of seeds, bark, and other parts of the tree, are instrumental in helping young women in Marange and neighboring villages generate income.
Environmental Buddies has big plans for the future, such as creating a community seed bank, installing solar power to reduce firewood collection, beekeeping, and educating young women about their important role in protecting the environment. Although not an easy road ahead, Shamiso and her team are hopeful and determined. With her palpable passion and enthusiasm, she will create a greener and better Zimbabwe for generations to come.