Gorongosa National Park

Gorongosa is the wildlife reserve located in the Middle of Mozambique, home to an enormous variety of animals ranging from crocodiles and hippos to pygmy chameleons. However, the success of the park did not come without much tumult.

Initially established as a hunting reserve by the Portuguese in the 1920s, the park soon became the scene of a destructive civil war. After the war ended in 1992, the park lost approximately 90% of its large mammals. Although some efforts had been made to restore the park to its original splendor, it was not until American philanthropist Greg Carr joined forced with Mozambique in 2004 that the park saw improvement.

Beyond planting millions of trees, transporting animals, and combatting poachers, Carr and his program have established a system that creates new job opportunities for women. This is crucial as women in Mozambique are victim to harsh gender inequality, especially economically. Outside the reserve, there are several communities of young empowered women who are attending Girls Club. This program enables guides young women away from child marriage and towards literacy and education.

It is beautiful to see how such a desperate and complicated situation can find life and grow beyond expectations. Carr's revival of the park and employment of women has deeply impacted the Mozambique wild reserve community, and many communities around it, as it is not only empowering nature, but also women.