Pascoe’s helping hand uplifts rural crafters

SHE is a volunteer for the Space for Elephants Foundation (SEF) and wife to the organisation’s chief executive officer (CEO), but born and bred Capetonian, Melanie Pascoe’s passion to fight for those in need runs deeper than caring for wildlife.

Since she moved to this province eight years ago, her compassion for disadvantaged Zululanders in the most rural parts of the region compelled her to drive a SEF project which benefits both people and threatened or endangered species.

Melanie travels to the most remote areas in Zululand where she spontaneously meets local talented crafters while bringing them wildlife awareness and purchases a variety of their unique items.

She then stocks all the handmade arts and crafts in a private game reserve shop to give our local talent well-deserved exposure to visitors from far and wide.

‘I have a passion for both people and elephants so I quite like the idea of incorporating both through an economic and conservation partnership,’ says Melanie.

‘This makes part of the foundation’s micro tourism ventures ‘Benefits Beyond Boundaries’ to empower communities, their cultures and nature conservation throughout South Africa.

While the foundation was initially focused on creating more space for elephants, which ‘man has reduced leaving small wildlife islands scattered across the continent’, it has broadened its ideals significantly.

‘The foundation does a lot of work in educating rural scholars about the importance of elephants and other wildlife,’ says Melanie.

‘This allows me to meet many creative crafters and talented children in these areas, which is truly humbling for me.

‘Their creations feed their families and my vision is to hopefully stock shops across the province with their amazing work.’