The ‘Rhino Girls’

In 1986, deeply concerned about the black rhino and other endangered species, two young women resigned from their jobs and left their home country of Zimbabwe for the UK to start “Ride For The Rhino”, a two-year trans-continental cycle ride to raise awareness and funds.

Charlene Hewat and Julie Edwards set off from Glasgow on their bicycles, cycling 22,000km through Europe and Africa back to Harare. The ride drew worldwide media attention and ‘The Rhino Girls’, as they became affectionately known, were presented with the Natural Resources Board Gold Medallion, the highest award for conservation in their country. During their journey, they came to understand that in order to save the rhino and protect our environment, people issues had to be addressed simultaneously, so they founded Environment 2000, later changing its name to Environment Africa. The girls’ ride was endorsed by many high profile people they met along the way, including the Pope, Margaret Thatcher, Phil Collins and Kenneth Kaunda. Their amazing journey is documented in the book ‘Extinction is Forever’. Julie is a wildlife guide running safaris in South Africa but Charlene is still the Executive Director of Environment Africa.She has received many awards including The Junior Chambers International award in Glasgow for The most outstanding Young Persons of The World for Environment, in 1995. She is also President of the Hunyani Rotary Club, which has been involved with projects to establish water wells and vegetable and tree gardens in schools. She is a co-convenor of a working group for the ISO, which is developing International Standards for Social Responsibility.

Charlene remains deeply committed to Zimbabwe, to Africa, to improving communities’ lives and protecting the environment.