The Darwin Initiative

Endangered Wildlife Trust's Bongisiwe Khosa Honoured by International Award

Bongisiwe Khosa was made a laureate of the Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF) this month, thus honouring and reflecting her passion, perseverance and commitment in protecting the environment. Bongi is one of 13 laureates from around the world and one of only six from Africa who received the WWSF's Prize for Women's Creativity in Rural Life. Bongi is employed by one of the Darwin Initiative's host-country partners, the South African Endangered Wildlife Trust, where she works amongst rural communities as a Rural Eco-Warrior, under their community outreach programme.

The aim of this prize is to draw international attention to women's contributions to sustainable development, household food security and peace, and to help them gain recognition and support for their community work. The prize thus honours creative and courageous women and women's groups around the world for their contribution to improving the quality of life in rural communities, for protecting the environment, transmitting knowledge and standing up for human rights and peace. Established in 1994, WWSF has so far awarded 344 prizes in more than 100 countries.

One of 14 children, Bongi stems from an isolated rural region of KwaZulu-Natal. Despite her difficult circumstances, she was determined to finish school, and worked in a local store before and after school in order to pay her way. Later, after a brief stint as a domestic worker, she was employed at a crocodile farm, where she became involved in the rehabilitation of orphaned baby animals. This made her realise that animals and habitats "had no one who could talk on their behalf or represent them (like a lawyer would)." She realised that people did not love or respect wildlife, nor did they have any strategy for the sustainable utilisation of natural resources. She was thus motivated in 2005 to attend a course in tourism and guiding, hosted by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT). The EWT quickly realised her value and in 2006 Bongi return ed to the Jozini community, employed as an environmental community officer under the EWT's Rural Eco-Warrior Programme (REW). Even though this meant a reduction in salary, Bongi's passion for environmental issues and for her community saw her readily accepting the offer.

Bongi is the only female member of the six EWT Rural Eco-Warriors, and has become a role-model for other women in the region. The respect she enjoys in her community is illustrated by the fact that she has been invited by the local chief to "men only" community meetings where environmental issues are discussed, thus paving the way for other women to follow.

Through the Rural Eco-Warrior Programme, Bongi has initiated and managed a number of environmental projects by helping local communities to identify their own problems and find their own solutions. This sometimes includes projects for sustainable income generation. Like many other rural areas, the Ingwavuma region of KwaZulu-Natal is beset with problems of poverty and unemployment. One of the ways in which the women make a living is by stripping the bark from a tree found abundantly in the region, the Fever Tree (Acacia xanthophlea). The Zulu people believe that this bark has magico-medicinal powers, and it is thus in demand in the traditional medicine markets in the cities. The women of Ingwavuma were however inadvertently over-harvesting and killing the trees, so destroying their future livelihood. On realising the situation, Bongi began to train the women in sustainable harvesting methods, and is now also planning a Fever Tree nursery, which will grow Fever Trees to replace those that have died. The women now have the possibility of a sustainable income in an area where most people have to rely on small government grants for survival. Bongi also involves local schools by running teacher training workshops and encouraging them to start eco-clubs. Furthermore, her community involvement is not limited to environmental issues, as she also promotes local culture by encouraging Zulu dancing in schools.

Bongi's perseverance, courage and absolute passion for the environment are demonstrated in every step she has taken throughout her life. She has also shown that it is not necessary to reject one's heritage in order to succeed, but instead that education and respect for the environment and one's fellow human beings are all that are required to uplift communities and create sustainable livelihoods.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust's Rural Eco-Warrior Programme is sponsored by SASIX, The Darwin Initiative, Xtrata, Rand Merchant Bank and the Mazda wildlife fund.

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