By Carol Chao
It’s a warm afternoon at the Wildlife Works greenhouse and it’s always a busy day for Charles Mwavula Nzale. Whenever you visit the greenhouse, you will find the calm composed young man with a wide smile selling and marketing the greenhouse products (such as seedlings), taking stock, or maintaining the equipment among other duties.
Charles outside his working station
Charles, now 31, was born and raised in Marungu ward, which is part of the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project area. Charles lost his mother at a young age, so, together with his siblings, he had to go and live with his grandmother. Amidst the challenges in his life, which included a lack of school fees, food, and clothes, he passed his primary level examinations and was lucky to be awarded a scholarship by Wildlife Works for four years to complete his secondary school education.
When an advert came up for vacancies in the Wildlife Works Greenhouse department in 2014, he decided to apply and was among the lucky few who were selected for the position on a contract basis. Due to his hard work and effort, he was employed on a permanent basis in 2015.
In the six years since he joined the Wildlife Works community, the husband and father of two has used his salary to support his family as well as pay school fees for his children and his brother’s children. Whenever he’s not working, Charles likes to watch football or spend quality time with his family.
Charles arranging tree seedlings at the greenhouse
“I have acquired a lot of skills since I started working at the greenhouse such as grafting and tree planting through the trainings that are carried out. I have also been able to save and even started a business of my own”, he says.
Charles posing with one of the seedlings at the greenhouse.
Charles wishes to thank the whole Wildlife Works fraternity for giving him the opportunity and his colleagues as well for their cooperation and support. Charles’ story is an inspiration and we are grateful to have him as part of our team.
