Raising heroes

By Anna Tolan, Founding Director of Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust

In Zambia’s South Luangwa, one of Africa’s great wildlife strongholds, a quiet movement is taking root. While elephants wander through the savannah and leopards pad through the forests, a new generation of young Zambians is learning to protect the wild landscapes that have sustained their communities for centuries.

At the centre of it all is Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust, a small but impactful organisation that is transforming how young people see the natural world. Chipembele is responsible for inspiring and training some of the conservation heroes featured in the Kingdom series - including both conservation leaders Henry and Thandiwe, and wildlife cinematographer Samson, and many of the team behind the scenes who played integral roles in making the series.

Founded in 1998 by my husband Steve Tolan and me, Chipembele began as a modest conservation education centre in the bush. Today, it has grown into one of Zambia’s most respected and dynamic environmental education organisations, working fortnightly with more than 30 schools across Mambwe District and reaching thousands of students every year.

I firmly believe that education is at the heart of lasting conservation. We can’t expect people to protect what they don’t understand or feel connected to. Our mission has always been to nurture that connection—to help young people fall in love with nature and realise they have the power to protect it.

At Chipembele’s Conservation Education Centre, the school day looks very different. Children might explore the internationally acclaimed Discovery Room, learn to identify animal tracks in the sand, recognise bird calls, or debate the causes of climate change on the banks of the Luangwa River.

Our team travels by bicycle to reach schools scattered across the vast Luangwa landscape. Their enthusiasm is infectious and has made conservation part of everyday life for hundreds of rural families. Lessons blend science, storytelling and local knowledge—a powerful mix in a region where the natural world is both magnificent and under threat.

Many of Chipembele’s students have gone on to become wildlife scouts, safari guides, community educators, ecologists and wildlife veterinarians, all determined in their own way to give back to conservation in Zambia. They are part of an ever-increasing alumni group known as ‘Chipembele’s Conservation Stars.’

Samson Moyo, a talented 27-year-old Zambian filmmaker, is a shining example of how Chipembele nurtures young conservationists. Raised near South Luangwa National Park, Samson’s early fascination with nature led him to join Chipembele’s Conservation Club, where he gained vital exposure to wildlife, technology, and photography. With Chipembele’s support, he successfully completed secondary school and discovered a passion for filmmaking through our weekly computer lessons. His talent was recognised by international supporters who sponsored his film studies in South Africa. Samson now runs his own media company, Mosam Media, and has worked with several leading international wildlife film crews—including the BBC on Kingdom—using his lens to champion conservation across Zambia.

Chipembele’s work reaches deep into local communities. The organisation offers scholarships for vulnerable students and provides extra support and encouragement for girls to remain in school and pursue careers in conservation. A shining example is Thandiwe Mweetwa, whose journey from a rural Zambian village to international conservation leadership is a powerful testament to the transformative impact of Chipembele’s programmes. Orphaned in her early teens, she found inspiration and purpose at the Chipembele’s Wildlife Education Centre along the banks of the Luangwa River, where her passion for wildlife was nurtured. With Chipembele’s support, she excelled academically, earning top national exam results.

She went on to pursue an International Baccalaureate in the UK, a BSc in Applied Biology from the University of British Columbia and an MSc at the University of Arizona focussed on lion populations in South Luangwa, all of which cemented her commitment to conservation. During her many years of working for the Zambia Carnivore Programme she established a Women in Conservation programme, encouraging and supporting other Zambian women and girls to pursue careers in conservation. Now a Chipembele Trustee, Thandiwe is a decorated scientist and inspiring role model to many.

Climate change is already reshaping life in Zambia, where droughts are becoming longer and more frequent, and floods are more erratic. In response, Chipembele has trained young “climate ambassadors” who lead school and community campaigns to promote resilience and awareness.

This year’s environmental campaign, “Climate Action for South Luangwa Now!” brought together hundreds of students for clean-ups, tree planting and school debates, culminating in a high-energy community celebration event featuring dramas, songs and poetry about the planet’s changing climate.

Chipembele students understand that saving wildlife is not separate from saving ourselves — it’s about safeguarding our shared future.

In an era when conservation challenges often dominate the headlines — from poaching to climate disruption — Chipembele offers a story of optimism, vibrancy and hope.

By empowering children to understand and care for their environment, Chipembele is doing more than conserving Zambia’s wildlife. It is shaping the future stewards of one of Africa’s most extraordinary ecosystems. Three of those stewards—Samson, Thandiwe and Henry — now feature in Kingdom, their journeys a powerful reflection of Chipembele’s enduring impact. From curious students to conservation leaders, their stories embody the promise of a new generation safeguarding Zambia’s wild heritage.