From game-based learning to wildlife safaris and academic scholarships, Gorongosa National Park’s youth programs are empowering the next generation to lead with knowledge, confidence, and care.
Story and photos by Samo Jossefa Samo
Young people in communities surrounding Gorongosa National Park are stepping into leadership roles—listening, learning, and shaping solutions for where they live. With training that ranges from community dialogue and girls’ empowerment to field-based ecotourism and academic success stories, these youth programs are planting seeds of lasting change.
Dialogue that makes a difference
Thirty young Youth Club promoters from six districts recently completed a five-day intensive training on community dialogue, learning how to foster active listening and encourage meaningful participation. The training program used games and engagement techniques to build trust, explore tough topics like reproductive health and sanitation, and empower voices often left out of decision-making.
According to program lead Alfredo Jochoma, community dialogue plays a powerful role in driving social change—especially when it centers the voices of those often excluded from decision-making. “It’s a participatory approach that gives space to adolescents, young people, and women—groups often marginalized in community forums,” said Jochoma.
Participants practiced integrating game-based learning from the Skillz curriculum to make sessions more interactive and accessible. For many, the training reframed what community dialogue can be: not a lecture, but a space for reciprocal listening, local knowledge-sharing, and collective problem-solving.
From Youth Club to university dreams
For Pedro Bongesse and Manuença Tomo, former Youth Club members from Metuchira General High School, support from Gorongosa’s programs helped them earn life-changing scholarships from the Tzu-Chi Buddhist Charity Foundation in Taiwan.
They credit the Youth Club for nurturing their growth through recreation, education, and leadership, and their journey is already inspiring others.
“We feel proud and happy for the achievements of these excellent students, who will continue to represent our community and inspire other young people to follow their dreams and achieve their educational goals,” said António Jone Gabunda, teacher and club supervisor.
Training the next generation of eco-guides
Sixty students from Polytechnic High School got up close with Gorongosa’s stunning biodiversity during a recent field training for future tour guides. Led by park guide José Montinho, the safari gave students firsthand experience with elephants, buffalo, antelopes, birds, and native plants like yellow acacia.
“It’s not often that tourists meet or come across the animals they want to see that day or time,” Montinho explained. “However, as a guide, you should always ensure the safety of everyone involved and never create false expectations.”
By emphasizing both excitement and realism, the training gave students a clearer view of their future in sustainable ecotourism—and the responsibility it carries.
Building skills and safeguards for girls
Meanwhile, Gorongosa’s Girls’ Club program hosted educator training across three districts focused on the use of new Literacy and Numeracy Guides. The sessions blended theory with hands-on practice, strengthening life skills and clarifying responsibilities.
The training emphasized four key themes:
- Levels of Responsibility, to define each role clearly
- Child Protection and Safeguarding, with a focus on keeping girls and boys safe
- Session Planning, to equip promoters with strong teaching tools
- Skills for Life, building confidence and capacity to lead
By investing in these youth-led initiatives, Gorongosa National Park is not just protecting nature—it’s helping grow a new generation of changemakers who will protect communities, too.