Lynlea Pepper’s career path is a good example of how one can integrate various interests into studies and profession. For her undergraduate degree at the University of the Western Cape, she merged subjects such as Geography and Environmental Studies, as well as English Literature, Language and Communication Studies into her BA degree. This, together with her Honours degree in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Stellenbosch, paved her way to the WWF internship position as a Junior Communications Officer with Sustainable Energy Africa. In this non-profit organisation in Cape Town, Lynlea handles the communication aspects of the organisation’s projects. Sustainable Energy Africa promotes equitable low-carbon and clean energy development in urban South Africa and the rest of the continent.

We wanted to know more about Lynlea and the inspiration behind her career choice. Here’s what she shared:

What are you passionate about?
I love spending time in nature, hiking and free-writing prose, as well as listening to music. I also enjoy art-related activities such as theatre and live music concerts. Helping others is also something I feel strongly about.
 
What inspired your choice of study?
 In high school, I had a great Geography teacher who encouraged our class to apply topics to the broader global context. For example, when discussing climate change, we explored different parts of the world that experienced its impacts, such as droughts in parts of Africa. This exercise made the subject and the associated tasks more interesting because we could figure out where each topic fitted into the real-world events that were taking place at the time. Also, having great lecturers at university made choosing Geography as my major subject much easier.

What excites you about your internship?
I am most excited for the opportunity to learn and apply myself in the work environment. The workplace is superb, and the staff at Sustainable Energy Africa are supportive and open to sharing ideas. It’s a great collaborative environment. No day is the same as there is always something new to learn, whether it is about climate change, sustainable energy, energy efficiency or myself.

What are your expectations of this internship?
I’d like to develop new skills and apply what I’ve learnt in the workspace. I also expect to gain a better understanding of the status of the environmental sector and work on improving my networking skills. Furthermore, I want to challenge myself in every way possible.

What contribution do you hope to make towards a future in which people and nature thrive?
I hope to make a positive contribution by empowering people to become proactive with regards to practicing environmental sustainability in their communities. I want to help those around me to gain a better understanding of the importance of providing input on local government concerns, such as policy development and community projects.
 
Who inspires you the most and why?
I am inspired by the people I meet every day. There is always something to learn from every person that one comes across on the way, whether it be their perception of a topic or just by the way they treat others. I use the opportunity to learn something about myself and look at what improvements I need to make personally and professionally.