Faculty: Forestry
Program: Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management
Year: 2020
Country: Zimbabwe
Blessing is a determined and enthusiastic professional who possesses a drive, self- initiative, and passion for environmental sustainability and climate change. While at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), he co-founded Green Associates, a student club that focuses on raising environmental awareness amongst students and neighboring communities. In 2016 he graduated top of his class with a Dean Honor Award, and a First-Class Bachelor of Science honors degree in Geographical Information Science (GIS) and Earth Observation (EO).
Blessing is a goal-oriented leader who has demonstrated a strong ethos of giving back. While a student and teaching assistant in the Department of Geography and Environmental Science (GIS and EO Center) at UZ, he worked in partnership with GEF, Oxfam, SAFIRE, and UNDP to break technological barriers, improve environmental management and scale up climate adaptation for smallholder farmers. Among other milestones, his team developed a tailored geo-enabled environmental and climate information system which has impacted more than 5000+ smallholder farmers to date.
At UBC, Blessing will pursue the Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management (MGEM) program to gain modern technical skills and knowledge needed to better understand environmental regulations, and strategies for innovative, comprehensive environmental management. Blessing plans on starting an organization that will help foster environmental sustainability through improved environmental interventions that will impact Zimbabwe’s rural communities and urban centers. Blessing is also enthusiastic about business development, public health, and data science. In his spare time, he likes to code, dance, and play chess. Blessing is excited about his upcoming studies and being immersed in the community in Vancouver.