My siblings and I go to school, both my brothers and sisters. We’re not rich by any means, but mum and dad work hard so we can go to school and have a good life. They do it because they love us. Mum and dad grow maize, sweet potato and cassava. Both of them work in the fields, and on the weekends my siblings and I help out.

“Boys my age who don’t go to school almost always start poaching in the park, and they are often encouraged by their own parents. It’s crazy, because they can get shot or end up in prison. There are many here in the village who are poachers, and I think it’s mainly because they haven’t had enough schooling. They don’t understand how important it is to protect animals and the natural environment. That everything in nature is priceless and connected as part of a natural cycle. They don’t understand that these animals are endangered; that one day there won’t be any rhinos anymore, and then they won’t be able to earn any more money.”

You have to work hard

“Some say that they poach because there are no jobs here. But I don’t think there’s a single good reason that makes poaching ok. If you want a job and to survive, you can always find something. You can be a fisherman or a farmer like my dad. Then you get both food to eat and crops, or a catch to sell and you can earn money. They are not easy jobs, you have to work hard to survive. And dad says it’s getting harder to grow maize and sweet potato; that the rains don’t come when they should and that it’s because of climate change. But those of us who live here can actually also work as rangers and protect animals instead of killing them. Then we’re looking after the natural environment and helping the climate too.

I’ve learned about nature, the environment and wild animals at school, but my love for animals and desire to protect them instead of killing them comes from my parents.”

Knowledge is vital

“Knowledge is our only chance if we’re going to put an end to poaching. We need to learn a lot about animals, nature, the environment and children’s rights at a young age. That way we’ll be better than parents today, and we won’t send our children out to poach but instead give our girls and boys the right to go to school as they should.

We must also stop thinking that poachers are cool and successful. They are nothing more than criminals. We need role models who have been successful because they have gone to school and worked hard, not because they have stolen and killed. I want to be such a person. I want to be an engineer and earn money, have a lovely house and a nice car. But I also want to shine by doing something important in life, for society. For building and helping, instead of tearing down and destroying.”