Community Engagement: South Africa

A Conservation Club meet and learn more about rhinos

Working with local schools in Makhanda, Alicedale, Zuney and Riebeek East, the programme combines theoretical classroom-based learning with practical activities, covering topics that include our environment, habitats, biodiversity and animal welfare.  The Born Free club curriculum increases knowledge and provides deeper understanding of the importance of wildlife and habitat conservation, enhancing the opportunities to achieve habitat connectivity within local communities.  The programme is aligned with national curriculum supporting better understanding of biology related subjects and fostering deep appreciation of the natural world.

The programme also provides career guidance to students by facilitating visits to career fairs, offering opportunities to shadow professionals at Shamwari, and supporting their efforts to upskill through college and university education.

Visiting the centres offers students the opportunity to take part in a programme that delivers theoretical learning, information about our rescued cats (both their personal stories and their needs in the wild) and an opportunity to visit the Game Reserve itself. These sessions allow them to better understand wildlife rights and where wildlife belongs, increasing understanding of the issues facing wild animals in captivity and the impact of human behaviour on individual species in the wild.

The Lavelikhwezi empowerment project team

This livelihood project focuses on sewing and other handicrafts, empowering people in our local community by building on the skills they already possess. With additional support and training from Born Free—including start-up funding, mentorship, and hands-on instruction—the group, largely comprised of women from Paterson, works full-time. They produce a range of products which include toiletry bags, school uniforms, mending/repairing and altering garments for game reserves, local schools and the communities they work within.

Being part of Born Free’s wider community outreach programme, we also engage this group in wildlife and environmental education and offer them the opportunity to visit our centres to learn more about Born Free’s work and the natural environment.   Game reserves are part of the project’s clientele base, highlighting to the local community and individual participants the need to supporting /engage in wildlife and habitat protection as they directly benefit from ecotourism.

A community clean up organised by Born Free in South Africa

Local governments often struggle to provide sufficient waste management to small towns in rural settings such as Paterson and Alicedale. However, these towns still produce a lot of waste, which can become damaging to the environment.

Many rural settlements are located near protected natural habitats, and inadequate waste management in these areas has a direct impact on the environment and wildlife.
To address this, our team works closely with local residents to clean up illegal dumping sites, carry out litter-picking and raises awareness about pollution and its harmful effects on natural habitats.

Clean up campaigns encourage community members to act on local issues that are harmful to the natural environment and wildlife, simultaneously also improving their own quality of life by dealing with environmental issues that are detrimental to personal health.

Our lighthouse, our legacy

The Lighthouse Project, based in Paterson, South Africa, is a grassroots initiative dedicated to creating a safe and supportive environment for vulnerable children and families. The project has breathed new life into a once-abandoned building, turning it into a beacon of hope.

Thanks to the dedication of local volunteers and community members, the space has been cleared, repaired, and re-roofed. Beyond physical renovations, the Lighthouse Project is committed to offering essential services and resources to uplift and empower the surrounding community. Activities that are to be held at the Lighthouse will be aimed at promoting community participation to address local needs, empower vulnerable demographic groups, enhance local skills and capacities, encourage environmental awareness and action, and create a safe and inclusive spaces.

Through our collaboration with the Lighthouse Project, we have been able to assist in physical upgrades of the building which included interior finishing, plumbing & electrical installation among other upgrades. Our aim is to run an afterschool programme at the Lighthouse with Paterson schools to encourage environmental awareness. The afterschool programme will also serve as a vital platform for meaningful community engagement and will strengthen our capacity to support and address the pressing environmental challenges currently affecting the area.