Development of various community and social welfare projects
The majority of community development projects are funded either by cash, in-kind or specific donations from guests, NGOs, tourism camps or offices and various corporates. The private sector or an NGO can administer and distribute these donations as specified, or as required. Staff and transport used in the management and implementation of these projects is provided by Wilderness Safaris and partner NGOs. Wilderness Safaris facilitates, manages and administers guest donations towards various community development projects, including infrastructure development, support for schools, etc. Wilderness Safaris’ Children in the Wilderness (CITW) programme also provides environmental education to children in the Torra Conservancy, through weekly Eco-Clubs, as well as annual camps. For these camps, Damaraland Camp is closed to paying guests and CITW hosts rural children as guests in the camp on a fun-filled environmental education programme.
• Ongoing engagement with communities to ascertain needs and to ensure buy-in and support of projects for sustainability.
• Funds available for the development of projects.
• Staff available to facilitate and manage projects.
• Such interventions should never be simple hand-outs as this results in disempowerment.
• Ongoing, regular engagement with and involvement of the community in the development and implementation of these projects is essential.
• All such projects should result in capacity development, improvements in social welfare and/or poverty reduction.
• Links must be clearly made to these projects and the related tourism and conservation.