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UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL FOUNDATION 9Msweli-Ratsoana speaks on the role of youth in conservation during the Reach to Forest Festival at The Kennedy Centre, United States of America, Washington DC. Msweli-Ratsoana addresses youth as part of the AWF. to succeed but also to help support her family. Even during her undergraduate studies at UKZN, she sent part of her scholarship stipend back home.She earned a scholarship that allowed her to pursue a degree in biology through her passion for the environment and her dedication to her studies. She remained determined even though her family%u2019s financial situation meant she had no choice but to continue seeking outside support for her studies. It was this resilience that carried her through the toughest times %u2013 when her grandmother was chronically ill and resources were scarce, she still pushed forward, knowing that her education could change not only her life but those of the ones she loved.%u2018Growing up, my family instilled the importance of education in me. They encouraged me to dream big despite the obstacles we faced, and I carried that lesson with me throughout my academic journey and career,%u2019 she said.Msweli-Ratsoana shared how her experience at UKZN laid the foundation for her career in environmental action and youth leadership. %u2018UKZN shaped the person I am today. It gave me the tools I needed to engage with critical issues in biodiversity conservation %u2013 from science, policy to practice %u2013 and I want to make sure the next generation has the same opportunities I did.%u2019Her journey after UKZN took her across the African continent, working in conservation and youth leadership roles. However, her ties to UKZN remained strong. She wanted to ensure that other students, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds, had access to the same opportunities that she was afforded. %u2018When I began my role at AWF, I decided it was time to give back. I knew how difficult it could be to fund studies, especially at Honours level. I wanted to make sure that deserving students didn%u2019t have to face the same financial worries I did,%u2019 she shared.Msweli-Ratsoana is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of leaders. She oversees several impactful initiatives, including the AWF Youth Leadership Program, designed to build leadership capacity in youth as future policymakers and senior managers. Her work at AWF involves curating bespoke leadership programmes and empowering youth across Africa to become champions for environmental conservation. Msweli-Ratsoana is helping to foster environmental awareness among children and youth through projects like the Kenya Conservation Education Project, ensuring that future leaders are equipped to tackle growing challenges facing Africa%u2019s biodiversity.Through AWF, she helps young leaders engage with influential platforms such as the Africa Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Her work ensures that Africa%u2019s youth are not only represented but are also shaping the future of environmental policies across the continent.%u2018I believe that youth are the key to solving some of the most pressing issues in conservation,%u2019 she said. %u2018If we equip them with the right skills and opportunities, they will change the world.%u2019