Community and Conservation on Vamizi with Joana Trindade

I was born in Mozambique, and from a very young age had a passion for Nature in its rawest forms. This passion grew strong every year when my parents would take me and my sister to explore new beaches in Gaza and Inhambane provinces each summer, beaches which at that time were mostly unknown to the world. And so my love for the Ocean was born, and little I knew where it would take me.

My passion for Nature also manifested in a love for animals, and I can say I’ve had more pets that I can remember, from the normal cats and dogs to monkeys, birds, turtles and bunnies. First I decided to be a Vet, but soon realised I didn’t have the heart for it, so I became a Biologist instead. This led me to work in conservation and I am very happy to have taken this path.

I ended up in Vamizi by chance, and I've been working here for over two years now. It was here that I fell in love with sea turtles, diving and the underwater world. Everyday I realize how lucky I am to live in such a unique place, with the most amazing view from my window, and as the Conservation and Community manager, I am part of a great team that works to keep this island as beautiful and pristine as it is, above and below water. There are many challenges that face the natural world, and islands in particular today, so it’s important to keep researching and working close with communities to better understand how to face those problems. There is so much to learn from this Island and I hope I can keep helping conserve Vamizi as the extraordinary place it is.