Hey #yugencommunity – welcome to our final #womenandsustainability feature for #InternationalWomensWeek 2020! #eachforequal #womensupportingwomen
This post features Leah Fouchong, a certified rescue scuba diver and the proud owner of Coexistence Expeditions - an environmental enterprise aimed at creating eco-conscious environmental advocates and promoting eco-tourism through safe, fun and educational tours meant to increase awareness, and empower participants to take initiative.
Leah says her enterprise was birthed out of her love and passion for the environment and that her goal is to show persons how to live in harmony with the environment through more eco-conscious lifestyle choices. She also aims to encourage persons to share their own journeys and thus inspire others.
Coexistence Expeditions started in 2014 when, after living in Belize for two years during the pursuit of her master's degree in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development for the Caribbean, she developed a desire to use her qualifications to effect environmental change in her homeland, Trinidad and Tobago.
So, once she returned home, she started planning tours to local outdoor areas and sharing content on social media. Based on the responses, she quickly realised that hosting environmental tours could be a fruitful means through which she could create and nurture a relationship between people and natural spaces, working based on the belief that "it is only when you truly care about something, then you will see the importance of its protection”.
After a few years, Leah was able to witness the expansion of Coexistence Expeditions into not just a social enterprise, but also, a group of environmental advocates called Changemakers for the Environment.
Leah sees this as her greatest achievement and a very rewarding aspect of her work as she is able to host a Changemakers for the Environment annual nature walk and picnic – a task she has taken up over the past three years.
Through this, Leah claims to have seen significant growth in public participation and changes in behaviour towards a more sustainable lifestyle – because of this she believes that there is now a greater sense of appreciation for sustainable services.
In the future, Leah would like to start selling eco-friendly products, host workshops and expand her team to better meet demand.
Anyone who would like to collaborate with, or contact Leah can reach her on Facebook (Coexistence Expeditions, Changemakers for the Environment), Instagram (@changemakersfortheenvironment), Youtube (Coexistence Expeditions) or their website ( www.coexistenceexpeditions.wordpress.com).
So did you enjoy our mini-series on women in sustainability? - We sure did! Let us know how you felt by liking this post and commenting below!
PS: Don't forget to check back tomorrow for our regularly scheduled (weekly) blog!
- Jamala A.
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