A LIFELONG IMPACT
A COMMUNITY IS ITS PEOPLE
Community development is a vital part of what we do and Kapama Private Game Reserve is well aware of the environment we are blessed to be a part of. Supporting and investing in sustainable economic growth and wildlife conservation are a given in terms of the sustainability of the reserve and the greater Kruger area. But helping previously disadvantaged communities living in the vicinity of our reserve is what community is all about. After all, a community is its people.
We assist these communities through education, development and support so they are equipped to build economically sustainable livelihoods and by doing so empowering them means empowering others. Taking care of the future is one of our main objectives and this means the youth need to be the focus and driving force of this growth. At a basic and practical level, children need guidance, they need support, they need to be educated, they need to be equipped with developmental skills and they need to matter.
Our Corporate Social Investment (CSI) projects or – Passion Projects – are committed to helping our communities and our two biggest initiatives start at a grassroots level.
We have established a children’s home, Thulamahashe Children’s Home and an associated trust, as well as partnered with Eco Children at Makwetse School in the nearby town of Acornhoek.
kapama thulamahashe children’s home trust
The tiny town of Thulamahashe lies about 40 kilometres south of Kapama and is home to the Kapama Thulamahashe Children’s Home, an initiative we proudly established that provides much-needed safety for orphaned and abandoned children from the area.
While initially designed to accommodate just 12 children, the home is very much a refuge haven for many more as no child in need is ever turned away. Ranging in age from kindergarteners to teenagers, these children need a place of safety and security as they have all either been abandoned or have been given up by their families who are unable to support them.
To help these children achieve their full potential and realise their dreams, we formed the Kapama Thulamahashe Children’s Home Trust to provide the funds needed. A participation fee from our guests is funnelled directly through to the trust and is overseen by four trustees and with fully audited financials open for public scrutiny. The trust is in place to put education and ongoing support at the forefront of the trust’s goals and aims.
Education underpins what the trust is about and through it, Kapama is able to help children on the foundation, primary and high school levels and this has extended into the sponsoring of children all the way through to tertiary education.
We’d love to share more about what the trust entails so please contact us if you’d like some more info. Involvement, contribution and interest are important to many of our guests and there are many ways you can help our ‘Kapama’ kids.
makwetse school – acornhoek
Eco Children is a non-profit organisation that focuses on improving learning environments specifically by stimulating children’s interest in nature. By ‘sowing the seeds of change’, they put children at the forefront of learning about their environment and conservation, build and constantly improve the much-needed infrastructure desperately needed and develop a reading culture through the development of libraries.
Kapama is in a partnership with Eco Children at Makwetse School where the concept of eco-education is practised. Knowing what it means to appreciate and be part of a national park requires careful education and by teaching children about where they live they can learn all facets of whole school education.
The first, very practical and hands-on step in eco education is to build an Eco Village. This consists of a large vegetable garden where the children are shown how to grow their own food. By involving the children, the teachers and volunteers, a sustainable vegetable garden is established. The children are in charge of the garden and seeing the look of delight on their faces at being able to eat the food they plant makes it a rewarding and satisfying undertaking. Surplus food from the garden also helps feed the community.
GETTING INVOLVED
Other community development causes are driven by our in-house community manager, Trichia Jacobs and these focus on working with Makwetse School on a deeper level such as teacher support and development.
Support is given to maths educators within the school and Grade R pupils are given the extra bit of help to help improve their fine motor skills and by so doing, lay the vital foundation for their future. There is also a bursary programme in place and learners are given the opportunity to attend the Southern Cross Schools situated in Hoedspruit.
Visits to Makwetse School are possible for Kapama guests and by visiting the school, guests can be hands-on and present to see the development work in practice and experience the greater community we are proud to be a part of.
Visiting and experiencing the school is an important item on many of our guests’ itineraries and groups of 10 guests can visit the school and take part in a day’s activities during the school term. Walk around the Eco Village (perhaps even sample some of the produce!) tour the school and see the ongoing building and refurbishment of the infrastructure, but most importantly spend time with the children. The kids love to meet our guests and they always make the children feel special.
Participating directly in our Social Development and Community Projects is a huge part of what Kapama stands for.
For more information on this passion project please email us.
Pack for a Purpose
Small Space. Little Effort. Big Impact.
This is what Pack for a Purpose, a worldwide organisation that makes it easy for travellers to make a difference at their destination, is all about. By leaving a small space in your luggage, pack an item that can be donated to the Thulamahashe community and something that may seem basic and insignificant to you can make a huge difference to the lives of those in need.
Whether it’s a book, a game, a toy or an item of clothing, that could mean a child gets a new pair of shoes or plays with a new puzzle, click here to see what supplies are needed for the projects we support. Pop something in your bag from home or chat to us about buying locally once you get here.
Please click here to see what supplies are needed for our project/projects.
