“There have been some wonderful developments in terms of our community involvement, and it’s such a pleasure to update you on some of the projects we’ve been busy with”, reports Agnes Tjirare CITW, Culture and Stakeholder Officer, with Clement Lawrence, Namibia Sales & Marketing Manager.
Marienfluss Clinic Medical Supplies
The project is quickly nearing completion, with donations to the value of NAD800 000-plus and more having arrived. We recently also received additional medical supplies, with ongoing efforts to raise more. Karin Fröhlich, Wilderness Safaris Regional Manager for Central Europe, and Johann Louw of Southbound Experience based in Germany, sourced additional medical equipment for the clinic.
Pack for a Purpose
With increased guest movement come more goodies for our CITW programme arriving with visiting guests. We were delighted to receive 7 kg of stationery, sporting goods, toys and medical supplies over the last 3 months.
Community Engagement Meetings
Wilderness Namibia Management had several consultative meetings with stakeholders from partner conservancies over the past month. Everyone had great fun and it was wonderful catching up in person, now that the travel restrictions have been lifted and we could all be together again.
Community and School Gardens
A number of communities have reported thriving crops. They now see the value in growing their own food and saving on transportation to nearby towns and food costs. Most are now also selling their surplus crops and generating revenue to afford essentials such as oil.
Conservation Heroes COVID-Relief Community Support
Wilderness Safaris Namibia, supported by CITW, recently distributed 60 food parcels in the Hardap region to the Nama community adjacent to the Kulala Wilderness Reserve. The residents were appreciative of the generous gesture and thankful for the food relief. The community further received educational materials, toys and outdated uniforms for the village elders.
Below, Namibia’s latest food parcel distributions and donations in numbers:
Doro Nawas Conservancy – 380 food parcels
Torra Conservancy – 380 food parcels, plus 26 for the De Riet Kindergarten
Anabeb Conservancy – 380 food parcels, Warmquelle Primary School Poultry project donation valued at NAD 10 000; a school library valued at NAD 210 000; fruit trees and seeds valued at NAD 5 000
Sesfontein Conservancy – 380 food parcels, fruit trees and vegetable seeds valued at NAD 10 000; scholarships for Elias Amxab Combined School to the value of NAD 20 000
Marienfluss Conservancy – 380 food parcels, Otjinungua Combined School garden to the value of NAD 27 000; community garden valued at NAD 5 000; Community clinic valued at NAD 800 000
