Health Matters at &Beyond Kichwa Tembo

&Beyond Media Release

HEALTH MATTERS AT &Beyond KICHWA TEMBO

&Beyond Kichwa Tembo in Kenya’s wildlife-rich Masai Mara National Reserve is deeply committed to the company’s dynamic staff wellness programme called Positive Health.

This unique training initiative is spearheaded by world-leading positive health trainers, David Patient, who after 27 years is one of the longest documented HIV-positive survivors in the world, and Neil Orr, a research psychologist who focuses on chronic immune disorders.

Uniquely suited to an African lifestyle, the training module is built around diet, natural vitamins and minerals, affordable foodstuffs, developing and maintaining a healthy immune system, and the power of positive thinking. It is a preventative health programme, training staff members to become counsellors on health, nutrition and psychological wellbeing, as well as caregivers for people living with life-threatening illnesses such as HIV/AIDS.

Two wellness initiatives, Goal is Life, a competitive inter-lodge soccer programme, and Sing for Life, a choral competition, were subsequently developed under the Positive Health banner. Both keep staff motivated and healthy and are thriving at Kichwa Tembo.

In June 2010, the Kichwa Tembo Football Club was one of just three winning &Beyond teams to attend the Italy vs. New Zealand FIFA World Cup match in South Africa. They were rewarded with this adventure for both their prowess on the pitch and the positive community initiatives that they have implemented over the last three years. One example was planting a vegetable nursery and dividing the seedlings amongst several communities who were struggling to keep their gardens thriving due to drought conditions.
 
Similarly, Kichwa Tembo’s Sing for Life choir came second in the regional East Africa championship last year. The choir is extremely passionate about sharing and celebrating their culture through the art of song and dance, delighting Kichwa Tembo’s guests each night in order to make a difference.   

The Kichwa Positive Health team has also trained 42 Maasai community members this year on “good food” and the importance of vegetables in people’s daily diet. Historically, the nutritional intake of the Maasai people is primarily comprised of meat, blood and milk.

Other Positive Health initiatives include an on-site medical clinic for Kichwa’s staff members as well as hundreds of local community members. Over 20 beehives were constructed, which now provide income for four villages and one school and indirectly help support around 220 people. 

“The list of projects is endless from the camp’s huge vegetable gardens and trench gardens in the Maasai villages, to empowering women in the communities to eat healthily and look after their families, the Positive Health programme in Kenya has, and continues to be, a resounding success”, says Elsje van Wyk, &Beyond ’s Positive Health Manager.

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Issued by: media@andBeyond.com
&Beyond  
T: +27 11 809 4300; F: +27 11 809 4511
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About &Beyond  
&Beyond owns and operates 46 luxury lodges and camps and creates personalised travel experiences in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya and India. The company was established 18 years ago and its commitment to delighting guests, sustainable responsible travel and community empowerment is world renowned.