18 October 2022
Compiled by Fortunate Chilenje
It is often said that a journey of thousand miles begins with a single step. Indeed, this has been true for me. My name is Fortunate Chilenje and I am a member of the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) Youth Network. My environmental advocacy journey began in 2018 when I was introduced to ZELA by Richard Ncube, a legal officer at ZELA during the launch of the Great Zimbabwe University Environmental Club. This was one such event which ignited my passion for environmental law. I was elected Chairlady for the club and since then, I have had the opportunity to work with ZELA Youth Network where I am actively participating and using the law to protect the environment.
Through my engagement with ZELA, my passion for environmental advocacy has been enhanced. Through the activities I participated on as a member of the ZELA Youth Network, I am now a confident environmental justice advocate. This has contributed to my recognition by various organisations promoting youth participation such as the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD), World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) and Africa Matters Initiative. Because of my experience as a member of the ZELA Youth Network, I was selected to participate in the Social and Economic Justice Activism (SEJA) Academy hosted by ZIMCODD and Her Environment Her Future (HEHF)Program hosted by Africa Matters Initiative.
ZELA has equipped me with environmental education, I have gained a considerable wealth of knowledge on issues such as climate change, sustainable development, corporate accountability, natural resources conservation and environmental child rights amongst various other topics. My sincere gratitude to ZELA. The organization has been instrumental in instilling environmental education and knowledge which has continued to enrich my career as an environmental advocate. I am particularly grateful to Josephine Chiname and Fadzai Midzi for their unwavering support. You are an inspiration to me, and I continue to learn a lot from you. Your constant encouragement, support, and motivation inspired me to be ambitious and to persevere in my journey towards environmental advocacy.