Greetings!

What if the future of conservation depends less on fences and more on young people?

March begins with World Wildlife Day — a reminder not only of the beauty of wild spaces, but of the communities who live alongside them every day.

At GSGC, we have always believed that conservation and community cannot be separated. This conviction has been close to Priscilla’s heart from the very beginning and remains one of the core pillars of the clubs we support. If young people growing up next to protected areas do not see dignity, opportunity, and a future for themselves within conservation economies, then wildlife protection will always feel distant — and fragile.

This month, we are featuring Kutchengetedza in the Lower Zambezi, where mentors like Patrick walk alongside young people in a boundary community deeply connected to wildlife — and to the very real hazards of living in a village surrounded by animals along the banks of the Zambezi River.

Through steady mentorship and safe spaces, youth are building confidence, strengthening life skills, and beginning to see conservation not as something “for others,” but as something they can meaningfully participate in and shape.

During a recent visit to the Lower Zambezi, I was struck by the depth and honesty of the conversations taking place in the boys’ club. One member had recently lost a family member after an elephant trampled them. These are not abstract risks. They are immediate and deeply personal.

What moved me most was the way Patrick held space for the boys to talk about their fear, anger, and frustration — and then gently guided the conversation toward possible solutions and shared responsibility. Shifting mindsets in communities facing such tangible threats requires enormous respect, courage, and care. It is slow, relational work. And it is deeply inspiring to witness.

We would love to continue this conversation with you at our first Connection Circle of 2026 on 9 April. This gathering will offer an opportunity to meet and engage with mentors from across the clubs we support in Zimbabwe and Zambia, and to explore together this vital link between youth empowerment and the future of conservation.

You will also find Devon’s thoughtful “Full Circle” reflection on six years with GSGC, a donor feature, and our third Mentor Moment of the year featuring Kangwa from Friends of Change, Zambia.

Thank you, as always, for being part of a community that believes lasting change is relational, steady, and deeply human.

With appreciation,

Tara

Executive Director

Global Sojourns Giving Circle

When Boys Are Guided, Communities Are Stronger

In Zambia’s Lower Zambezi, conservation is not something discussed in theory. It is part of daily life. Elephants move through crop fields. Monkeys raid harvests. Some families have lost loved ones to human-wildlife conflict. During farming season, children are sometimes pulled from school to guard fields, protecting the crops their families depend on.

For boys growing up in this environment, frustration can come early. Without guidance, that frustration can easily become directionless.

This is the context in which Mentor Patrick leads Kuchengetedza Boys Club — a GSGC-supported boys club grounded in conversation, accountability and belief.

Mentor Moments - Kangwa Yombwe

This month we highlight Mentor Kangwa Yombwe, who leads the Friends of Change Boys Club in Livingstone, Zambia.

In this Mentor Moment, Kangwa reflects on a young boy in his club who repeatedly tested patience and trust, pushing him to the point of wanting to give up. Instead, Kangwa chose to offer another chance — a decision that led to a powerful transformation and reminded him why mentorship means staying, especially when it is hardest.

A Full Circle Moment

Recently, Nyika took an overnight bus journey to visit his son Victor at his boarding school.

In his bag, he carried something very special — a copy of his own book, The Myth of Manhood.

When they met, Nyika handed the book to Victor and said quietly:

"You will find all of me in here, son. Read it. And when you come home, we will talk about it."

For Nyika, this moment held deep meaning.

The book tells the story of his own journey — growing up, questioning the expectations placed on boys and men, and finding a different path through mentorship, reflection, and community.

Now that story is being passed to the next generation.

A father sharing his truth with his son.

An invitation to read, reflect, and continue the conversation.

Moments like this remind us that mentorship doesn’t only change communities — it changes families, and it shapes the future in ways we may never fully see.

From mentor to father.

From one generation to the next.

A beautiful full circle moment.

Reflections on Six Years with GSGC

After more than 15 years working across conservation, tourism and community development in Africa, Devon reflects on the six years he spent with Global Sojourns Giving Circle and the unique model that first drew him in.

What he encountered was a deeper approach to development — one rooted in long-term mentorship, local leadership and relationships that grow stronger over time. His time with GSGC offered a powerful reminder that meaningful change rarely happens quickly, but through consistent investment in people and community. Looking back, the journey reveals how trust, patience and mentorship can create lasting transformation.