Each month we will feature a different member of the staff. This months staff member of the month is Majenda Mhutila and the following is the script of his interview.

Majenda (left) and Judy at the field

Full name: Majenda Mhutila
Birth date: March 16, 1977
Home town: Dodoma Region of Tanzania
Current location: Morogoro, Tanzania
Education: 1st degree- Batchelor of Science in Wildlife Management from Sokoine University

Can you tell us about your family?
I am married to my wife Agatha, we have been together for 4 years and married about a year and a half ago. We have 1 daughter, Rose, who is walking now and on her way to talking- she’s making sounds. The rest of my family lives in Dodoma. I am the oldest of 9 kids with 4 sisters and 4 brothers. I am thankful my parents are still living and I visit often. 2 of my sisters and all of my brothers are still in school and as the oldest son, it is my job to make sure they finish school and have something to do, so I help support them through school.

What is your position with APOPO?
Research Assistant and General Supervisor

When did you start with APOPO?
October 2006

How did you get involved with APOPO?
I knew APOPO before as I studied at Sokoine University where APOPO is based. When I finished my studies, I worked for one of my professors at Sokoine University for a year as a Research Assistant in the Department of Forest Biology (collecting data, analyzing, interpreting results, and report writing). Then APOPO published an announcement that they were hiring, and I applied.

What was your perception of the concept originally?
The first time I heard of APOPO training rats I was surprised. But because I had been studying animal behavior in school I was aware that certain animals could be trained I was just previously unaware you could train rats.

How do you see its potential now?
Now I have realized that rats are intelligent animals that can be trained to work, and save lives.

What is your favorite part of the job?
My favorite part is definitely, working with a staff that works well as a cohesive group. As a general supervisor, working with people that cooperate as a group and listen to the procedures, makes the job much easier. The staff is made of good people and they help each other. It’s a big group and you cannot expect everyone to get everything the first time, but they help each other. We all perceive things differently, but since we are working together as a group, each person contributes to the learning. APOPO is like a school, the rats are the students, and the trainers are the teachers. If the teacher’s don’t work together they cannot disseminate the information to teach the students. When people are working together it is easy to control things, and you are likely to get good results in everything you are doing. The support from the management is also really good. I can talk to them any time: if there is a question or suggestion, the information flow within the APOPO staff is good.

What do you do in your free time?
Many things: I watch movies I like action, drama, and comedy. Some of
my favorite movies are: The Contractor, Murder at 16 with Wesley
Snipes, Man on Fire with Denzel Washington, Rush Hour, and The Nutty
Professor with Eddie Murphy. I also like watching and playing
football- my teams are Sima (Tanzania), Manchester (UK), Barcelona
(Spain). I enjoy taking photos and making videos, films, or music
videos and I like to make new friends- the more the better in my
estimation.

How would you describe what it is like to work for APOPO? Work climate?
It is a nice working environment, because we work together and we are doing something new in Tanzania and in the world. So, it feels good to be a part of that. Maybe in the future we will be in the Guinness Book of World Records/Wonders, because we did something new and very helpful.

How is APOPO perceived in the community- SUA, Morogoro, Tanzania?
In the beginning, people were thinking these people are crazy because they think they can train rats. But over time they have realized that rats can work and save lives, perhaps even better than some other animals. They know we are doing something new for the community and the world.

I think because Tanzania does not have a landmine problem the benefits are not quite as easy to see. Outside Tanzania where we are demining you can see the benefits for the local people much more directly, as once the mines are removed they can start or continue with their life and normal activities and no longer need to worry about landmines. Here in Tanzania, the benefits are a little more indirect. Almost all the employees are from Morogoro or the surrounding communities and villages. If you add up all the temporary and contracted employees, people recognize there are many people employed by APOPO. Once the Tuberculosis project is validated that application will visibly impact the local community and give people many advantages. Additionally, as we discover more applications, people will see all the benefits and become more involved with APOPO.

Review our staff and HeroRAT fact sheet