Jock Safari Lodge has formed an official long term partnership with the Wilderness Foundation Africa (WFA) to further conservation education and youth development within the broader community of the Kruger National Park. This comes after the commitment of R400,000 which will be contributed to two intervention programmes which will be rolled out as part of the Jock/WFA collaboration.
In line with the values of the CALEO Foundation, which owns Jock Safari Lodge, WFA aims to help protect, restore and sustain threatened ecosystems, wildlife and flora resources and their habitats, as well as surrounding communities through integrating conservation and education programmes. These range from anti-poaching and large landscape wilderness management, to developing young leaders from disadvantaged communities for a career in conservation.
The Siyazenzela leadership and employability skills training programme is aimed at previously disadvantaged youth who are ready to take their lives into their own hands. The training courses are run as a four-week short term project with facilitation in focus areas such as emotional and social wellness; ooccupational and financial wellness and physical and environmental wellness. Participants gain job preparedness skills and are provided with job shadowing opportunities. Upon graduation, they are enrolled into a resilience support programme that ensures that they stay connected to the programme for peer mentoring purposes, monitoring and psycho-social support.
The second programme,Imbewu Wilderness Trails aims to connect the youth to their cultural-environmental heritage. It focuses on resilience and the healing power of nature for personal and social transformation which often leads the participants to make life-changing choices and lifestyle changes that equip vulnerable youth to be economically active and environmentally responsible citizens.
Dr Andrew Muir, CEO of Wilderness Foundation Africa said “We are excited to be partnering with Jock Safari Lodge, with their impeccable commitment to sustainable development and leaders in nature-based tourism. There is much to learn from each other in the common cause of ensuring that our natural heritage is preserved and enjoyed by all citizens of our country”.
