Senior Sophia Legos ’26 is already making a global impact through her leadership with Abundelo, an education-focused nonprofit that partners with African Parks to bring interactive learning modules on biodiversity, ecosystems, and conservation directly to students across Africa. As the organization’s Chief Operating Officer, Legos was involved from the organization’s early days and coordinates a diverse, international team of young people dedicated to empowering the next generation of environmental stewards. In this Q&A, Legos shares how she became involved in Abundelo, what excites her most about the work, and how her experience lends well to her future goals.

Q: How did you initially get involved in Abundelo? 

A: I became involved with Abundelo in the summer of 2024. At that time, the nonprofit was just beginning, and I connected with its founder, Sai, who was working to get the project off the ground. Abundelo covers topics like biodiversity, ecosystems, SafetyCulture, and even park-specific species on Samsung tablets across African Parks’ 22 national parks and reserves. I helped launch the first pilots, which began in the Bangweulu Wetlands in Zambia and then expanded to Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of the Congo in September of 2024. Students in Odzala-Kokoua enjoyed the courses so much that they asked us to create even more. At that time, it was just Sai and I building the project—designing courses, connecting with African Parks, and shaping the program on long, late night meetings. Since then, we’ve grown into a team of 17 like-minded individuals, ages 13 to 30, representing countries from Brazil and Singapore to India, Switzerland, and Uganda. Our next pilot will be in Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda, scheduled for the upcoming weeks.

Photo courtesy of Abundelo

Q: What do you do in your role as Chief Operating Officer? What are you most passionate about in this work?

A: As Chief Operating Officer, I oversee Abundelo’s operations and team coordination. This includes delegating tasks, leading meetings, supporting project timelines, and ensuring strong communication across our global members. I also manage our media and outreach by running Abundelo’s Instagram and LinkedIn pages to share updates and highlight our impact. A large part of my role involves reviewing and refining course content to ensure that it is engaging, accurate, and tailored to the unique needs of each African Park. Beyond operations, I focus on strengthening our partnerships by reaching out to similar organizations and creating opportunities for young people to contribute their skills to conservation.

What excites me most is the tangible impact we are making—empowering the next generation of conservation leaders by giving them access to knowledge in their own communities. My passion for the environment has always fueled me, whether I’m making small contributions like picking up trash locally or leading larger-scale projects like Abundelo. Being able to see how these educational tools inspire curiosity about ecosystems and biodiversity motivates me to keep pushing the project forward and remind me that I am a part of something bigger than myself.

Q: How does your work with Abundelo align with your future goals?

A: My work with Abundelo aligns closely with my long-term goal of becoming a veterinarian. I believe that caring for animals goes hand-in-hand with conserving the environments in which they live. Through Abundelo, I’ve learned how education can spark awareness, change perspectives, and inspire conservation efforts, which is something I hope to carry into my veterinary career. Beyond medicine, I want to use my platform as a veterinarian to advocate for environmental protection and teach others about the importance of ecosystems, wildlife, and sustainability. Abundelo has given me hands-on experience in blending education, conservation, and leadership—all values I want to continue to embody in the future.

Q: Can you share about your plans to visit an African park in the future? 

A: One of my personal goals is to travel to an African Park where our tablets and courses are being used. While I don’t yet have a set timeline, I know that seeing the program in action firsthand will be invaluable. I want to meet the students and educators, watch them engage with the tablets, and hear directly how the courses are influencing their perspectives on conservation. Experiencing this impact face-to-face will not only deepen my connection to the work but also guide how I can continue to grow Abundelo’s outreach and effectiveness.

Photo courtesy of Abundelo

Q: Anything else you’d like to share? 

A: Abundelo is still young, but the momentum we’ve built in just over a year has been incredible. Our team is proof that youth from around the world, even across different time zones and cultures, can come together to create meaningful change. The requests from students for more courses show us that this is making a difference, and that keeps us motivated to keep expanding. Eventually, we hope to be able to reach all of African Parks' national parks and reserves.