As a little girl, I grew up dreaming of being able to explore tropical rainforests and help wild animals. I am originally from Egypt, and during my childhood, I spent my summers in Egypt, catching grasshoppers, butterflies, frogs, hermit crabs--you name it. For a long time, I thought I would grow up to be a veterinarian, but I was never interested in medicine. I didn’t know I could pursue my dreams through graduate school by becoming a scientist and doing research.
I first traveled to Madagascar in 2014 when I was still in college. In Madagascar, I saw lemurs and many other animals I had only ever seen before on my TV screen. I spent a lot of time with Malagasy, the local people of Madagascar. I learned that many Malagasy have to hunt wild animals to feed their families and that many people don’t have access to roads, cities, hospitals or schools. Children often don’t have the opportunity to get an education.
Before going to Madagascar, I was lost, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do after I graduated. My trip to Madagascar changed my life. For the first time, I learned that in order to save endangered animals, we must also help the people who live with them and rely upon these creatures.
