Portrait of a Ranger is a winner of the WTM Award

Portrait of a Ranger: Connie, directed by Leo Plunkett and produced by Wildlife Works, is a winner of the Women Transforming Media Award at the MY HERO 2025 Film Festival. 

For the past eight years, Eva has proudly presented the Women Transforming Media Award (WTM) as part of the Festival, championing and supporting filmmakers whose work shines a light on the powerful influence of women in media. This year's recipients of the Eva Haller Women Transforming Media Award are Portrait of a Ranger: Connie by Leo Plunkett, We Are Here by Tiffany Shlain and Turning Points in History: Frances Kelsey and the Thalidomide Scandal directed by Harmony Ann Lin Yan-Li and produced by Irvine High School.

Jen Ko from the Caigo Corridor Red Plus Project in Kenya sent in a video accepting the award on behalf of Leo. She said: "Portrait of Ranger is a story about courage, resilience, and breaking barriers. I am incredibly excited to see it recognized alongside my teammate. Leo, your professionalism made this experience truly meaningful. And to Connie, thank you for sharing such a powerful journey—thank you for showing us how a woman can thrive in a male-dominated field. To everyone who supported this project, I want to extend my deepest appreciation. This award reminds us how important it is to share uplifting and encouraging stories."

About the Film

The Wildlife Works’ film features Constance Mwandaa, one of the first female rangers at the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ project, after following her childhood passion for conservation. Since she joined the team at Wildlife Works, she has helped pave the way for more female rangers and is now one of ten women on a growing team of over 100 rangers. Together, they are transforming what it means to be a ranger.

Born and raised in the Kasigau region, Constance grew up surrounded by wildlife and developed a deep love for nature at a young age. After secondary school, she pursued her dream of joining Wildlife Works’ ranger team—an ambitious step in a field traditionally dominated by men. In 2011, after successfully completing the demanding selection and physical fitness tests, she officially became the first woman to don the ranger uniform in the Kasigau Corridor.

Her presence instantly began shifting local expectations. Young girls who once saw conservation as off-limits started to recognize that they, too, could have a place in wildlife protection. Constance quickly became a role model and a catalyst for change.

ConnieScreenshot

Over the years, Constance distinguished herself through advanced fieldwork and rigorous ranger training programs, including completing the renowned LEAD Ranger course. Her professionalism and commitment saw her rise from Training Officer to Head of Training and ultimately Assistant Warden. In these leadership roles, she designs and delivers comprehensive training programs for rangers, team leaders, and deputy team leaders. This work strengthens the professionalism, confidence, and safety of the ranger force and ensures that new generations of conservation leaders are well prepared for the challenges they face.

Today, the Kasigau Corridor ranger team has grown to more than 100 members, including ten women whose journeys were made possible in part because of Constance’s pioneering path. Her influence echoes through every patrol and every training session, helping shape the skill, resilience, and unity of the entire team.

Since Constance became the first female ranger, she has helped open doors for others who once believed conservation roles were not meant for them. Female rangers at Kasigau and around the world are redefining what it means to protect wildlife. They serve as educators in their communities, mediators in cases of human–wildlife conflict, and role models who inspire others to challenge outdated gender norms. Constance’s work demonstrates the profound shift that occurs when women are empowered to participate in fields where they were previously excluded.

The Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project, recognized as the world’s first and longest-standing certified REDD+ initiative, forms a critical wildlife passage between Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks. Spanning more than 200,000 hectares of dryland forest, it shelters a diverse range of wildlife, including several endangered species. Rangers in this area play a crucial role in monitoring animal populations, preventing illegal deforestation and poaching, resolving human–wildlife conflict, and sharing conservation knowledge within their communities.

Beyond its ecological importance, the project is also a cornerstone for community development. By partnering with more than 100,000 local residents, the Kasigau Corridor initiative reinvests revenue from carbon credits into essential services such as education, healthcare, clean water, economic opportunities, and direct job creation. In a region where the survival of both people and wildlife was once in conflict, the project has created a shared path forward, using a market-driven model to align human well-being with environmental protection.

Watch the film here: myhero.com/portrait-of-a-ranger-connie

About the MY HERO International Film Festival

The My Hero Film Festival is an annual event dedicated to showcasing films that celebrate the power of the human spirit. The festival provides a platform for filmmakers to share inspirational stories of everyday heroes. Thanks to generous sponsors, prizes are awarded to elementary, middle school, high school, college and professionals in a variety of categories, including documentary, narrative, music video, animation, experimental, and more.

The festival aims to inspire audiences to recognize the heroism in their own lives and encourage positive actions in their communities. Learn more.