by Şeniz Mustafa
Şeniz Mustafa explains the importance of younger and more diverse voices when it comes to the future of our National Parks. In her project, Şeniz interviews three incredible young people who shared their connections to the parks, their passions, their hopes and aspirations if these changes to include more young people were made. Ultimately, the film is about giving young people a voice and making it clear that young people are the future, and so it is time be ought to invest in them.
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Şeniz freelances in community engagement, content creation, in addition to being an ecologist and campaigner. She is a youth panellist for Butterfly Conservation and secretary of the London Bird Club, whilst also leading on the UK Youth for Nature award, recognising emerging youth excellence. She is passionate about advocating for inclusion in conservation and helping to pave the way for more young people to be able to envision themselves within nature and take the lead in developing its future.
“The inspiration was fueled by Campaigns for National Parks and their commitment to their campaign. After connecting when I spoke at the National Parks conference in Brighton, I think it was clear we had a feeling we would be working together someday. We then came together to create this project and work together to develop our vision with the voices of four young people (including myself) into the film you see today.”
“National Parks to me were always a far-flung place that I had heard stories about and had wished I could visit. It wasn’t until my later teens that I had visited one, and then subsequently lived just outside the South Downs National Park. I have since adored Cuckmere Haven, having completed a placement there as a ranger and just being in awe of the wildlife and landscapes. As time progresses, I see a greater diversity of people visiting the parks, and it makes me so overjoyed to see people who look like me and those I see every day feeling like they belong there. I have a good feeling about the future of the parks, and I think with more voices, we are going to see nothing but more incredible ideas and positive change.”
Right now we have a once in a generation opportunity to change how National Parks operate. It’s essential that future generations are part of it.
Will you help us shape the future of National Parks?
Our National Parks New Perspectives project aims to give young people from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to influence and connect with decision makers to change the narratives on who National Parks are for and who has a say in their future.
As part of our New Perspectives project we have offered grants to young people to share their stories of National Parks
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund we provided storytelling grants, Future Leader Courses and opportunities for young people to join us as Ambassadors
