Tiza Zyambo

2019 Intern

Meet Tiza Zyambo. She studied adult education at the University of Zambia. The course taught her about how to help people become critical thinkers and participate in decision making processes, in their communities.
Tiza joined WWF as an Intern under the SIDA leading the change, energy project before being promoted to the Groundthruth Project Coordinator, after demonstrating undeniable passion, dedication and leadership skills.

We asked Tiza a few questions about what inspires her, why she joined WWF, what she enjoyed about the Internship, and the future she hopes to see. Below is what she said.

Who inspires you?

Professor Prem Jean. He is the UNESCO chairperson in Renewable Energy and a lecturer at the University of Zambia. I first heard and understood the term sustainable development from him. He inspires me because he marries theory with action. He not only taught me about sustainable development, I was also able to read his journal articles on this, and he is involved in projects that are achieving it.

What motivated you to join WWF?

The passion I had in me for mitigating climate change. This passion was ignited when I was selected as a Climate Ambassador in 2012 through the Zambia Children Climate Conference Programme, hosted by UNICEF and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in Zambia. I learned so much about climate change that I could not wait to be part of the solution. I was looking for a platform to fit in and make a difference where the environment is concerned. So when I saw this opportunity to be a part of the World’s largest conservation organization, if felt more than right!

I also wanted to gain experience and learn more about conservation which I knew I would get at WWF. Now, beside this new knowledge, in my current role as Groundthruth Coordinator, I am learning about citizen science – I am living the dream!

Lastly, I am delighted to use my skills in community development for WWFs conservation agenda. I believe conservation can only be achieved through partnering with communities.

What environmental issue would you like to be part of addressing?

I would love to contribute to the reduction or the end of plastic pollution.
I would like people to understand the negative impacts that plastic has on our environment and that it contributes to climate change. It is simple efforts that make a difference. I personally recycle plastic bottles to make pencil cases.

What excited you the most about the Internship?

The Internship was exciting because it was aligned to my personal goals of reducing climate change. The Project offered solutions to climate change such as improved energy cooking stoves which use less charcoal. It provided a solution to deforestation for people. Working with the communities, I learned that most charcoal burners did not really want to cut down trees, they just needed a source of survival. This project shifted their focus from cutting down trees to running businesses through the improved cooking stoves. I was excited to see this shift, and be a part of it.

What role can your generation play in making the world a better place?

There is a quote that I love, it says “we are a new generation and we need a different approach”. Our generation can see the things that haven’t worked and try the things that could work. We dream of an environment with protected wildlife, zero emissions and clean water... We need to take a stand that it starts with us, and we need to work together to achieve this dream.