More than an organisation
Children in the Wilderness (CITW) is the dedicated youth empowerment arm of the Wilderness Trust. As the flag-bearer for the Educate pillar of Wilderness’ Impact strategy, we are empowering the future leaders of Africa to become the protectors and custodians of their natural heritage.
With the tremendous amount of insight, care and commitment required to conserve Africa’s pristine wilderness and wildlife areas, we are teaching rural children across our areas of operation in Africa to understand the importance of conservation and its relevance in their lives; inspiring them to care for wild areas and ensuring their continued existence – for now and future generations.
We achieve this in several ways – from facilitating Eco-Club programmes at local schools, to running annual camps at Wilderness and partner camps for the children within the rural communities that live on the edges of our wild areas in Africa.
Our training aims to develop neighbouring community members, including local teachers and Wilderness staff, by improving their environmental understanding and bettering their skills to effectively implement school and village environmental projects and initiatives.
Throughout the year, we operate Eco-Clubs in rural schools in the communities where we work. They follow a structured curriculum, providing all learners interested in the environment a chance to meet, learn, discuss, and expand their knowledge of conservation and sustainability. Children chosen to participate in our annual camps are selected from our Eco-Clubs.
A Wilderness or partner camp is closed for a few days each year, and up to 30 children between 10 and 17 years old are hosted in the camp for a four-day educational and fun-filled programme which includes lessons, games, practical sessions, and wildlife activities such as game drives!
The Youth Environmental Stewardship (YES) Programme focuses on children who have been identified in Eco-Clubs for showing commitment, leadership potential, and a keen interest in conservation. This programme serves as the natural progression in environmental education from our Eco-Clubs.
Children from our programme who are doing well academically, but whose parents cannot afford to send them to school, are given the opportunity to complete their schooling through our scholarship programme.
Students from our programme who are doing environmental or conservation courses at tertiary institutions are provided with funding through our scholarship programme.
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It is our vision to develop sustainable conservation through leadership development.
By exposing children to wild areas, Children in the Wilderness is creating a network of learning sanctuaries that uplift and care for our children, who in turn learn to love their natural heritage. In this way, we hope to inspire them to care for the environment and become its custodians, protecting it now and for future generations.