For Delsy Sifundza, success is about educating others and working with them to care for our natural environment.

Being the first in her home to attend university, Delsy is passionate about education. Her wish is to share her knowledge with others to help develop future generations who are well informed about nature and its benefits.

She tells us how she wishes to do this:    

What motivated your career choice?
I have always been a person who enjoys spending time in nature. I also loved animals as a child. But, it never crossed my mind that I would one day become a Marine Biologist.
 
When I was in Grade 11, I came across an article about Ichthyology and conservation. This piqued my curiosity and I began reading more about courses offered in these fields. Since then, I fell in love with Zoology, Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, which I did as my undergraduate degree at Rhodes University. In 2018, I completed my Master of Science degree in Ichthyology at the same university.
 
What do you hope to gain from the internship?
In addition to the experience, I hope to enhance my skills, as I am only at the beginning of my working career. As a graduate, I want to challenge myself to give my best in the work place, and be able to contribute to promoting the sustainable use of our resources.

What excites you the most about the internship?
As a WWF Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI) intern, I am excited to be part of a growing team that works to conserve our oceans for the benefit of people and nature. Also, since I am a people’s person, I look forward to communicating with communities and other stakeholders, raising awareness and influencing the sustainable use of marine resources.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the world is facing right now?
The biggest challenge that we face today is pollution. One of the major causes of environmental degradation and decline of species is linked to pollution. As a nation and as individuals, we have to find ways to prevent the contamination of our resources in order to maintain our environment for generations to come.

What contribution do you wish to make to the well-being of people and nature?
Over the past years science has focused more on conserving the environment than the well-being of people. The good thing is that this approach is slowly changing. My wish is to discover more innovative ways to find the balance between conservation and ensuring that people benefit from nature.

If you had a chance to change one thing in the world, what would it be?
It would have to be the social injustices and inequality that most people in our society still face today.

Issues of class, gender and race, and the influence they have in work places, education, and social life are still topics discussed today, as people deal with them on a daily basis.

I believe that everyone has the ability to change and become a better person. The younger generation has a greater impact in shaping the future of this world and I believe I am part of that change. 

Who do you admire the most and why?
My mother is my inspiration and the definition of excellence.
 
I admire her for running a full household and a 5am to 5pm business as a single parent. She has also raised her children, including myself, with so much love and respect. I am forever grateful for her presence in my life, and I hope that one day I can be half the woman she is.

What role do you think your generation could play in creating a better world for all?
We live in an era where we need to set standards for future generations. We must become leaders for both the older and younger generations. When you are a leader, you practice what you preach and this allows people to follow in your footsteps.

Furthermore, we need to ensure that we are vocal about the issues facing our planet. We have innovative ideas that can change the world, but they need to be heard first.