Esther Muhindo (she/her)

How are you using education to build more sustainable and equitable communities? Tell us about your EE work and impact. 

Education is my tool to grow communities that live in harmony with nature. With UNITE, each year I train over 400 teachers from 26 schools around Queen Elizabeth and Kibale National Parks, helping them integrate conservation into daily lessons and school routines. By empowering teachers, I ensure conservation reaches thousands of children every day. Every school term, I lead trainings on key environmental topics such as waste management and climate change, turning educators into role models and environmental leaders. I also organize student field trips to forests and national parks, where over 1,000 children learn to appreciate and connect deeply with nature beyond classroom walls. To measure real impact, I conduct student evaluations at the beginning and end of each year to ensure knowledge is transferred from teachers to learners. I also visit students’ and teachers’ homes to observe how they apply sustainable practices like tree planting and energy saving stoves. With IYAN, I reach over 2,000 students in 10 schools through an awareness program where I train women and youth in eco-stove production, and I reach an additional 3,000 community members through radio talk shows. Education has inspired action and strengthened community stewardship, building a generation that protects both people and planet. 

Tell us about your journey to where you are today. What inspired you? What has your path been like? 

My conservation journey began at 13 when I watched the green hills of Ihandiro slowly fade into charcoal and firewood. Each morning, as a young girl carrying cooking responsibilities, I walked long distances in search of wood, time that stole from my education and dreams. I saw how nature’s loss was also a loss for women, children, and the future. Rather than accept this as normal, I chose a different path. Together with other young people, I co-founded Ihandiro Youth Advocates for Nature (IYAN), a small spark of hope in my community. We introduced eco-stoves and solar energy, taught conservation, and helped households find livelihood alternatives that did not destroy the land that sustained us. To strengthen my voice, I studied wildlife and natural resource management. Today, as Assistant Conservation Educator at Unite for the Environment, I train teachers, guide students, and help communities rediscover their connection to nature. The journey has been filled with challenges, but also with purpose. What inspires me is simple: no child should miss school because the forest is gone, and no community should have to choose between survival and nature. I walk this path to ensure both people and the planet can thrive together.

A Little More About Me

What advice would you give to the next generation of leaders?

My advice to the young generation is to believe in your vision, even when others doubt you. Lead with purpose, lift others as you rise, and take persistent action to create a sustainable, positive future. 

What makes you most excited to be an EE 30 Under 30 awardee?

Being an EE30U30 awardee excites me because it amplifies my work in empowering teachers and students with conservation education and connects me to a global network of young leaders driving real environmental change.

Do you prefer sunrise, sunset, midday, or midnight?

I prefer sunrise, when the world awakens and nature's energy feels alive.