Testimonials

I spent six weeks in Zanzibar during July and August 2018. While there I served as ZAVECO’s sustainability intern, working in mangrove replanting, helping to establish the groundworks for a sustainable finance crab farming project and cleaning up a considerable amount of plastic. I can honestly say that working with ZAVECO has been a trasnfrmative expereince. The people within this organization are qualified, intelligent, and dedicated to improving the environment and the surrounding communities of Zanzibar through hard work and compassion

I spent 3 months in Zanzibar with the ZAVECO team for my internship, as a final part of my Master of Science in Forest and Nature Conservation at Wageningen University & Research. During these months I got to experience the ins and outs of the organisation while working together with the highly ambitious and dedicated people that form the core of the NGO. Besides experiencing the work and challenges a small-scale NGO gets to deal with, I gained several other skills like identifying a variety of mangrove species (10 different species exist in Zanzibar alone!), planting them and speaking Kiswahili kidogo.

I was offered the opportunity to carry out my research for which I studied the role of climate-related knowledge in coastal community adaptation projects like mangrove restoration. I found that, despite community members often living within proximity of the ocean, their level of knowledge on climate-related matters was often very low. On a more positive note, however, a great part of the communities are involved in the restoration and conservation of these valuable ecosystems in one way or another. Also, many of them were able to explain to me a great variety of ecosystem services provided by the mangroves that they relied upon for their livelihoods. I also got to present these findings to a working group of forest department in the Ministry of Agriculture.

Besides my primary goal of providing recommendations to ZAVECO based on the findings of my research, I also got to be part of a number of other related projects, like setting up a pilot for a mangrove honey initiative and organising a meeting with the local community to discuss the next steps in creating a new eco-tourism project to create an alternative form of livelihood for the community.

I am grateful for the opportunities provided by ZAVECO and the great trust they’ve put in me by letting me work on my research independently while offering a helping hand when needed. A special thanks to Madame Asma, Dr. Mary, and Bas Verschuuren for the guidance and supervision. Also, I would like to thank the people at Mkuu House for offering me the opportunity to stay with them during my time abroad.

Asante sana.

My name is Saadati A. Khatib, a student at Mwenge Catholic University in Moshi, taking bachelor degree in Applied Biology, As an intern at Zanzibar Volunteers for Environmental Conservation, I have had the incredible opportunity to immerse myself in a variety of conservation projects aimed at preserving the rich biodiversity of Zanzibar especially mangrove forests. Throughout my internship, I have learned valuable skills in environmental research, data collection, and sustainable practices. Working alongside dedicated conservationists, I have gained a deeper understanding of the importance of protecting our natural resources and the impact of community involvement in conservation efforts. My time at Zanzibar Volunteers for Environmental Conservation has been both educational and inspiring, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to the organization's mission.

We are grateful for ZAVECO's dedication to preserving Zanzibar's environment and empowering
local communities.

Iam grateful for the opportunities provided by ZAVECO and the great trust they’ve put in me by
letting me work on my research independently while offering a helping hand when needed.” Sven
Bartelink (intern). Master of Science in Forest and Nature Conservation at Wageningen University
& Research