Rumbidzai Kanyangarara
MAEP Candidate, Environmental Policy Institute
Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Rumbi was born and raised in Zimbabwe. She graduated with a BSc in Environmental Science (Chemistry) with a focus on aquatic and analytical chemistry from Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2013. Her personal experiences with, and knowledge of water insecurity issues in her home country, led Rumbi to explore water related issues in Canada and in Newfoundland specifically; thus, with the help of her supervisor, she was able to conduct her undergraduate thesis on arsenic in groundwater and its implications for rural Newfoundland communities.
Upon graduating, Rumbi spent a few years working in Fort McMurray, Alberta for a non-profit organisation that was dedicated to helping homeless adults within the community. During this period, she learned about the water-related injustices that many First Nations communities across Canada have been facing over the years from her clients as well as other Housing First advocates.
She then made the decision to return to school to further her education and to learn about the policy aspects of water issues. Now under the supervision of Dr. Kelly Vodden and Dr. Wade Bowers, Rumbi will be conducting her graduate research on collaborative water governance within the province, drawing upon the experiences of the community of Burgeo.