Every year, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund welcomes undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students to our Ellen Campus in Rwanda. We are particularly proud of our commitment to training the next generation of African conservationists on our campus and in the field. Many of these students begin their journeys with us as university students or interns, and then continue their early careers as research assistants. James Munyawera and Honorine Ihimbazwe are two such examples of young people who are forging their conservation paths at the Fossey Fund.
James Munyawera and Honorine Ihimbazwe both started with the Fossey Fund as college students.
Heading for a Ph.D.
While pursuing his bachelor’s degree in biology and biotechnology at the University of Rwanda, James Munyawera enrolled in our field courses. During his time in these classes, he learned more about our holistic conservation model and how it could help villages like his own, which suffered from landslides and soil erosion.
James then went on to become a research assistant at the Fossey Fund, which helped him not only learn more about collecting gorilla data and anti-poaching patrols but also gave him an understanding of how people and wildlife are interconnected. “Working closely with gorillas, trackers and local communities offered an understanding of the role played by every actor in the protection and conservation of mountain gorillas and their habitat,” James says.
His passion and talent earned him an African Biodiversity Leventis Fellowship at the University of Oxford, and he is now pursuing his Ph.D., and anthropology at the University of Oregon. His research will focus on the gut microbiome of mountain gorillas, a highly specialized field of study. In the future, he hopes to play a part in preventing the transmission of harmful microbes as a result of his research.
Starting out early
Honorine Ihimbazwe also began her journey with the Fossey Fund as a student and intern, but her interest in conservation started when she was a debate student in secondary school.
“Engaging in those discussions made me realize how much these issues were affecting not only nature but also every aspect of life around the world. I wanted to go beyond conversations and contribute to real solutions,” Honorine says.
After Honorine completed her bachelor’s degree in biology-botany and conservation at the University of Rwanda and her undergraduate research with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, she joined the organization as a research assistant. Working in this role was a “transformative experience” for Honorine, as she collected and analyzed data, mentored university students and had the opportunity to collaborate with researchers from all over the world.
Honorine went on to earn her Master of Science degree from Queen Mary University of London, producing research that “connects botany to sustainable conservation.” She recently had the opportunity to present her work at the 11th Annual Biennial Conference for the Systematics Association in Reading, in the U.K. In the future, Honorine hopes to help “advance plant research in Rwanda and the region, where plant diversity is rich but often overlooked in conservation efforts.”
A shared purpose
Both James and Honorine hope to inspire the next generation in Africa to study science and conservation. “There is still an underrepresentation of African researchers on the African continent focusing on primate research,” says James. “Therefore, I aim to continue doing my research on primates as well as helping others, especially future generations, as I believe that helping fellow researchers from the African continent will be the sole way to provide conservation sustainability.”
Honorine explains that one of her primary career goals is to educate and mentor the next generation of conservation scientists, particularly in Rwanda and the region. “I believe that empowering young conservation researchers and leaders is essential for the future of conservation.”
From students to scientists, research assistants to international scholars – James and Honorine represent the future of conservation in Africa: passionate, driven and deeply rooted in the communities and landscapes they aim to protect.
