Progress and your Wonder Woman legacy

The phrase ‘capacity building’ is bandied around in international circles. ‘We’ll build capacity’ we say as if it’s the most straightforward thing in the world. But what do we mean by this? And are we actually helping nature conservation and our fellow conservationists? ​

Or are we naive and ‘parachuting in’ to a situation in the assumption that we know better? That we can teach them something that will improve nature conservation in their country? Do we understand the cultural etiquettes, the weight of history, or paradigms that they are working in?

Both of us have the privilege to work in Cambridge in the UK. It is an exciting, stimulating place to work as a conservationist and our colleagues are big thinkers, big-hearted, and big on collaboration. But we would be naive to think that we have all of the answers here in Cambridge. And we would be naive not to acknowledge that we are working within ivory towers.

We love the poem below by Rupi Kaur (another wonder woman!) about progress. Through our blogs, resources, and network at We Are All Wonder Women we want to help equip the next generation of women to outdo us. It’s an exciting ambition and one that motivates and inspires us.

We challenge you to also help your fellow conservationists outdo you. Wonder women - let’s work together to help each other up the career ladder with the ambition that the next generation will outdo us!

"our work should equip
the next generation of women
to outdo us in every field
this is the legacy we'll leave behind"
-Rupi Kaur