Meet Koketso, intern & final year student from the Botswana University of Agriculture & Natural Resources

My name is Koketso Mosimanewamokwena, I am a final year student pursuing BSc
in Range Sciences at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources
(BUAN). I am passionate about our environment, which led me to join BUAN’s
Environmental Conservation Society (ECS) in order to contribute towards
environmental sustainability. The ECS seeks to raise awareness of environmental
conservation across diverse stakeholders such as schools, government
departments and the general public.

At the moment, I am excited to be conducting my field practical training
with Elephants for Africa (EfA) at their camp bordering the Makgadikgadi Pans
National Park. The duration of the training is six weeks. As a range science
student and ECS member, I have high expectations for my stay with EfA. At the
end of my six weeks of training with EfA, I am expecting to have gained
knowledge and experience in assessing, monitoring, and managing rangeland
resources, as well as understanding the interrelationships between humans,
plants and animals. Moreover, I will not restrict myself to learning things
only related to my programme but embrace new ideas as I learn from the team.
This will enable me to be a versatile student who is able to adapt to changing
dynamics.

Despite the fact that field training is a requirement for the completion of
my studies, I am passionate about sustainable management of Botswana’s natural
resources particularly the conservation of endangered species such as
elephants, so super excited to have this opportunity. Among others, sustainable
resource management strives for the maintenance and conservation of resources
for future generations to enjoy them as well. Therefore, sustainable resource
management is a collective responsibility – hence my choice of career in conservation.

It is critical for me to be involved with active organisations on the
frontiers of conservation such as EfA, in order to achieve my career
aspirations. I am certain that the experience I will earn from EfA will enable
me to tackle the evolving conservation concerns with a high level of competence
and confidence.