&Beyond’s 20 Community Empowerment Victories

Founded in 1992 to support &Beyond ’s commitment to conservation and communities, Africa Foundation — a registered non-profit organisation — has built up a highly successful track record in empowering and enriching the lives of communities living in and around &Beyond ’s conservation areas and safari lodges.

Supported by &Beyond ’s business, partners and guests, Africa Foundation completes the model of integrating conservation, high-end tourism and communities to their mutual benefit. To date, R75 million has been raised for social upliftment and empowerment projects within the areas of healthcare, education and small enterprise development.

Some of Africa Foundation’s greatest community achievements include:
1.    Nkomo Primary School — 60 children used to gather in four makeshift ‘classrooms’ on the grass beneath four large trees until Africa Foundation constructed 10 classrooms allowing 830 children to benefit from an improved learning environment.
2.    Conservation Lessons — more than 500 teachers and 7,000 children from &Beyond ’s neighbouring communities have enjoyed an interpretive game drive with &Beyond rangers to learn about the importance of conservation.
3.    Mduku Clinic — this clinic is now the dedicated healthcare facility for 12,000 people surrounding &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve.
4.    CLEF Bursary Programme — the Community Leaders Education Fund provides tertiary education bursaries to aspiring young learners.
5.    Hippo Water Rollers —3,600 of these transportable drums have been supplied to rural African communities giving them convenient access to clean water.
6.    Digital Eco-Village (DEV) Centre — a place where 30,000 people can access computers, fax machines, and the internet.
7.    Mbedhula Craft Market — empowering local artisans to showcase and sell their crafts in order to support their families.
8.    Ololosokwan Clinic — a ten-room medical centre providing health care to 5,000 people.
9.    Nkomo Ark — a safe haven for more than 400 children affected and/or orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
10.    EnviroLoos — a safe, healthy and environmentally-friendly alternative in areas where there is not enough water or suitable infrastructure to support waterborne sanitation. Africa Foundation has constructed 103 EnviroLoos at 14 schools and community institutions.
11.    Khulani Special School — caters to 115 children with disabilities ranging from paralysis to hearing and visual impairment. It is the only school within a 300 km radius that looks after children with special needs.
12.    Lillydale Home-based Care Centre — volunteers take care of elderly and ill residents by visiting them in their homes to deliver healthy meals and ensure they take their medication.
13.    Ikusasalethu Sewing Club — 15 women offer sewing services in the KwaJobe community. They sew school and church uniforms, as well as linen for nearby lodges.
14.    Water Reticulation — the Foundation connected 21 schools to the municipal main water pipeline, providing 16,000 children with access to clean water.
15.    Dongwelethu Poultry Project — 8 community members rear chickens and sell eggs, chickens and chicken products to their community.
16.    Happy Homes Preschool — an old makeshift corrugated iron classroom that housed 28 children was transformed into a school that now has 165 children in four classrooms.
17.    Conservation Debates — high school learners debate topical issues relating to conservation and their surrounding areas.
18.    Motse wa Tsholofelo Preschool & OVC Centre — a school that caters to orphans and vulnerable children; youngsters also receive healthy meals and emotional support.
19.    Permaculture Gardens — 12 vegetable gardens planted at schools and community institutions to enable food security where it is needed most.
20.    Ololosokwan Primary School — a school, kitchen and dining facility that caters to over 750 children.

Ends

Issued by: media@andBeyond.com

&Beyond T: +27 11 809 4300; F: +27 11 809 4511

www.andBeyond.com

About &Beyond

&Beyond owns and operates more than 35 extraordinary lodges and camps in Africa and India’s wilderness highspots. The company is also one of Africa’s leading inbound tour operators, designing luxury safaris and personalised travel itineraries in 16 African countries, and India. Established in 1991, &Beyond delights guests in order to make a difference; its commitment to sustainable responsible travel and community empowerment is world renowned.

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