African Women, Armed and Dangerous

Annamaria on Monday

A few days ago, the world celebrated International Rhino Day, to call attention to the threats against that disappearing species.  Regular readers of MIE have often read here about the dangers and about the efforts to stop the slaughter.  Here's a twist on that story.

I can't tell you how happy it makes me to tell you about this squad of environmental warriors in Zimbabwe.

A neighbor of mine in New York, a South African by birth, and I were discussing my efforts to help protect pastoralist girls from lives of pain and oppression.  She told me about a charity that she supports and an all-female squad of anti-poaching rangers.  The group in question was trained and their work is supported by The International Anti-Poaching Foundation, an organization formed to make anti-poaching efforts more effective.

Rangers with feet on the ground are the planet's defense force against the killers of protected species.  Unfortunately, many such defenders of the world's natural heritage have been woefully under prepared to win the battle - lacking proper training and equipment to win against the wealthy poachers.

IAPF specializes in using technology, intensive commando training, and reliable weapons to swing the odds in anti-poaching's direction.  They sponsor efforts in several countries in East and Southern Africa.

Today I am focusing on their effort in Zimbabwe, called Akashinga, which means "the brave ones" in the Shona language.  Here they are - all women, many of them single mothers and refugees from brutal marriages.  Victims no more, they are now a successful team whose efforts have lead to convictions of poachers they have captured.  You can read a Guardian article about them here.

The side effects of their work are, to me, every bit as, if not more important than the animals they protect.  Because through their training, camaraderie, and burnished self-image, they are saving themselves.  And their children.  The money they earn for their work allows them to live safe, independent lives.  It pays for their children's school uniforms and school fees.  It has led them from a  life of suffering to a wholesome family existence.  To the pursuit of happiness.

And, perhaps best of all, they stand - to all around them - as strong and brave examples of how strong, how effective, how important, how happy women can be.

Huzzah for that!!

You can learn more about IAPF here.