About me 

Providence Akayezu is a biologist conservationist and National Geographic Explorer from Rwanda, East Africa. Akayezu started her career with conservation biology, got a chance to visit protected areas of Rwanda, and was impressed by how species interact with their environment, including people. It is an important concern to understand how humans can stay friends with their nature. 

Akayezu loves being connected - having colleagues of the same group around you. Foremost, she participated in the My Community, Our Earth fellowship, when she was still in her third year of undergraduate in 2009. It was a great experience and all the coaching from Patricia Solís and the team at the Association of American Geographers is still memorable. Today, Akayezu stays warmed up by the company at the National Geographic Society (staff and explorers from around the world). National Geographic is that network where you are always recognized by the work you do out there, to ''keep the planet in balance'' :)

Further with her professional development, Akayezu got inspiration from various people, including the faculty members of the University of Twente, one faculty known as 'ITC' - this is where the personality of avoiding procrastination, having things done well and on time, stay eye opened and boost networking were acquired.  

Akayezu also keeps in mind all the tiresome guidance and review on writing projects for funding conservation work - thanks to two staff from Fauna and Flora International: Stuart Paterson and Merodie Rose. Akayezu is today able to design and implement projects, at the same time communicate about her conservation adventures. She is a member of the Conservation Leadership alumni and Holland alumni. 

During the last 2.5 years (August 2017 - March 2020), Akayezu worked with BirdLife Rwanda on a climate change project. Akayezu enjoys spending time on the field, mobilizing local communities (mostly farmers), and maintain a good relationship with all relevant stakeholders. She is also much interested in statistical analysis, mapping, writing reports and articles – telling success stories about the project. She is currently a Conservation Leadership Faculty at the African Leadership University (ALU), Rwanda Campus. 

There is a saying, everybody wants to change the world but nobody is ready to change themselves for the world. Akayezu strives to contribute to the change of behaviour, through sharing what is happening, and educating. She believes that her little input into solving the world’s problems would be one day acknowledged.