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Breaking New Ground: Sikoi's Journey
Building on her education, a former Noloholo Scholar becomes a mentor and voice for sustainable change.
Remember Sikoi Rosio? At 16 years old, she was a young Maasai girl from Narakauwo village whose dreams stretched into the horizon. We first shared her story when she was on the cusp of a groundbreaking achievement: becoming the first girl from her community to attend university. But that was just the beginning.
A decade has passed, and Sikoi’s journey has blossomed into a powerful testament to the transformative power of education and unwavering dedication. Her early dreams of becoming a dentist, while heartfelt, evolved into a deeper understanding of her role in the delicate balance between her community and the natural world. And so her hopes and plans for her future changed.
I wanted to find a way to honor our traditions while making a sustainable future. To educate people on how to balance livestock grazing with wildlife conservation has been very rewarding.
After graduating in 2024 with her degree in Rangeland Management from Sokoine University of Agriculture, she embarked on a career in conservation where she could directly apply her knowledge to the challenges facing her community. It was then that she joined APW’s African Women in Conservation Initiative, not as a leader yet, but as a determined mentee.
"I knew I had the education," Sikoi explains, "but I needed to learn how to translate that knowledge into real change. The mentorship program was invaluable in helping me find my voice and understand how to make a difference."
Through the program, Sikoi honed her skills in sustainable grazing practices, climate resilience, and community engagement. She learned to bridge the gap between traditional knowledge and modern conservation techniques, becoming a resource for her community.
"My community has always been my priority," Sikoi says. "I wanted to find a way to honor our traditions while making a sustainable future. To educate people on how to balance livestock grazing with wildlife conservation has been very rewarding."
Today, Sikoi is a respected community champion, not just in Narakauwo, but across the region. She actively participates in planning meetings, shares her expertise with local herders, and mentors youth who aspire to follow in her footsteps through a volunteer position with African People & Wildlife. In rural Tanzania, where nearly one in three girls marry before 18, her commitment to conservation is an example of how education and determination can open new paths for young women.
As we celebrate our 20th anniversary in 2025, we are grateful for the opportunity to witness stories like Sikoi’s unfold, inspiring us to continue our work for the girls who are just starting today and the young women they will become tomorrow.
