Nelisiwe is a Community Projects Officer for a global environmental conservation organisation based in Cape Town. Find out more about her work here...

Nelisiwe is a Community Projects Officer for a global environmental conservation organisation based in Cape Town. in this article, she tells us about her passion for environmental sciences and shares her advice for people interested in pursuing a career in the field of environmental conservation.

“I’ve always been fascinated with the science behind natural spaces,” Nelisiwe says. Nelisiwe completed her studies in Geography and Environmental Sciences. She says that her passion for understanding how human interactions impact the environment was further sparked upon completing her honours degree. “It became more than just about biological science – I was exposed to the dimension of social science that recognises both the human impact on the environment, as well as how the natural environment contributes to human development.”

Having also discovered her passion in assisting students from disadvantaged backgrounds, Nelisiwe says she was caught between a rock and a hard place when it came to deciding her career path. “I found myself in a career tug-of-war between pursuing a career in community development empowerment or environmental science.”

Fortunately for Nelisiwe, her first internship at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, exposed her to both fields where she worked with communities and rhinos. With a hunger to learn more about the possibilities in the organisation and the sector, Nelisiwe says she joined the World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA) as an intern.

“After 18-months I was offered a position as a Community Projects Officer,” she says.

Nelisiwe explains that her role involves demonstrating that local communities can contribute to the conservation of wildlife, such as rhinos and elephants, by supporting community leadership skills, contributing to economic development, involving people in natural resource management and prioritising community safety and security. 

Nelisiwe’s job allows her to travel in and around South Africa and Mozambique.  

“I absolutely love that I have the opportunity to interact with and learn from other people’s experiences in working with communities in Africa and around the world.”

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in environmental conservation, Nelisiwe advises starting off with an internship. “Internships are useful for discovering skills you may not be aware of and assisting you with making a career choice. You will do well in your career if you are passionate about learning from other people.”

She also stresses the importance of getting out of your comfort zone. “You must be willing to get out of your comfort zone to understand the needs of both people and the environment. The places we go to are physically, mentally and emotionally demanding. So, beyond your qualification, being a community projects officer requires passion, dedication and determination for positive outcomes.”

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