We’re SO excited to welcome our first EVER Youth Board at Chester Zoo. This dynamic group of young people from a multitude of backgrounds, are on a mission to empower young people to take action for wildlife.
What’s your role on the Youth Board?
Youth Board member
What does the zoo mean to you?
The Zoo gives me hope and inspiration. Everybody involved with the zoo (staff, volunteers, partners, visitors etc.) all have a role to play in the essential conservation work being done. It is amazing to see how every single role is just as important as the next – anybody can get involved and work together for conservation around the world and at home. I think this is important for young people to recognise – how powerful they can be at any age/stage in their life.
How have you supported the zoo, whether that be recently or over a longer time period?
Together as a board we have all individually and collectively been able to give our advice to the Zoo teams regarding various current and new projects, as well as helping to fundraise to support the Zoo. We have also worked in smaller focus groups with different goals that suit each of our skills and interests. I am currently involved in several groups with different tasks such as providing feedback on web presence of the Zoo’s Wildlife Connections campaign and supporting the Zoo teams in developing the Love it for Longer and the Youth Symposium events which will happen later this year.
Why do you feel so connected and passionate about the zoo and its work?
Since coming to the University of Liverpool, my passion for conservation work around the world and closer to home has grown significantly. I am studying as a veterinary student and I hope to explore a career path related to veterinary conservation, wildlife, or zoo medicine. I knew that Chester Zoo was involved with very important conservation work around the world, but since joining the youth board I have learnt much more about it, how much the zoo does and how important every single project is. Chester Zoo is essential for the conservation of wildlife and habitats and I want to do all I can to support what they do and be a part of it.
What do you hope to achieve in your role on the Chester Zoo Youth Board?
I want to help the Zoo in their work to inspire and motivate the younger generation to act for wildlife and conservation. I want to help young people to realise that nobody is too young to have their voice heard, nobody is too young to be powerful, and that every young person can be very significant in their actions in conservation – you don’t have to wait until you are an adult!
What have you got out of being a part of the Youth Board so far?
I have met lots of amazing and interesting people both on the youth board and throughout the Zoo teams. I have learnt so much about how the Zoo works, all the essential work that they do, but also things I didn’t realise I wanted to know, such as the roles and responsibilities of board members and how they work together to get things done. I have also gained a lot of confidence from being on the youth board which has further helped me in my studies to be a vet. Finally, the more work with other people at the Zoo, the more motivated I become to do my part in conservation.
NOW is the time to ACT FOR WILDLIFE. Conservation is CRITICAL; species are under threat. TOGETHER we can make a BIG difference. Take action TODAY and join us in PREVENTING EXTINCTION.
OUR TEAM OF EXPERTS WORK IN SIX REGIONS AROUND THE GLOBE – REPRESENTING SOME OF THE PLANET’S MOST BIODIVERSE HABITATS. Discover more about our SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION work.