Candice Pierce from Timbavati said so far they have managed to distribute 464 food parcels and 465 bags of oranges donated by Hlokomela and their partners to vulnerable families.
“During our Winter Warmers Campaign we donated 235 warm items.
“We also donated 30 black bags full with pre-loved clothing and linen donated to vulnerable families and children centres,” she said.
The foundation is steeped in the spirit of Ubuntu and works extensively to uplift the lives of communities neighbouring the TPNR via a series of ongoing outreach programmes based on four pillars: education, conservation and environmental awareness, community upliftment and social care and health care.
They have also distributed 960 vegetable seedlings to neighbouring community gardens and homes and installed tippy taps at nine surrounding schools.
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“The tippy taps are one of our Covid-19 response project. This system allows for hands to be washed and rinsed in order to create and encourage good hygiene without touching a thing.
“We aim to install these sturdy structures into our focus schools to ensure that our learners are kept safe and clean,” she said.
The foundation also has an environmental school which teaches and inspires learners to inherit a love for wildlife and a reason to want to protect them.
“Exposing the young minds to the beauty of protected areas allows them to make a choice, a choice that asks them, “What role can I play in protecting our wildlife, our heritage?” “It does not have to be something physical that they do, it could be a simple mind shift to want to be better and act accordingly,” she said.
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Pierce told Herald that learners actively learn about the wonders of nature and are involved in fun activities such as eco-focused animal games, organic permaculture, compost creation, litter clean-up campaigns, invasive alien plant identification as well as planting and growing indigenous trees.
“We too connect at a tertiary level. Every year we sponsor young motivated adults bursaries into the field of tourism and hospitality.
“With the wildlife economy playing such an important role within our landscape, we hope that by providing these opportunities, it will inspire local youth to become a part of the wildlife economic value chain.”
