Students from schools that are sponsored by the Foundation, namely Forte High School, Salvazione Christian School, Mahareng Secondary School, and Setlabotjha Primary School, attend the LWS for one week every year to learn about the importance of the environment, how to take care of it and preserve it.
A new school building, which houses classrooms, accommodation, offices and a kitchen, was completed and officially opened in November 2022 at Lapalala; the Foundation contributed to its funding, while Group companies supplied the materials for the project.
The Foundation continues to partner with BirdLife South Africa to support the facilitation and development of community conservation projects via the Empowering People Programme in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.
This project aims to promote education about conservation issues and thereby engender a positive attitude among communities to the protection of their local ecosystems.
Goals include:
- Supporting local livelihoods by protecting species
- Securing ecosystem services
- Promoting resilience; and
- Fostering the equitable use of natural resources through community-led conservation and education initiatives.
Key activities include:
- Upskilling BirdLife South Africa community bird guides
- Training environmental monitors/education officers; and
- Investing in school and community education projects.
SAWC conducts nature conservation training that covers the full spectrum of skills needed in the conservation industry. The practical hands-on training focuses on providing courses that will open up career opportunities for people already employed in the conservation sector and for those seeking to enter the sector.
The courses are also designed to help transform the biodiversity economy of the region and develop Southern Africa’s existing protected area network and broader trans-frontier conservation areas.
The Foundation contributes to funding the following students:
- Foundational learning competency certificate
- Field ranger armed training
- Conservation security officer course
- Responsible resource-use module
The Group’s Chairman, Mr Gianni Ravazzotti, is passionate about conservation and personally involved in many of the Group’s conservation projects.
In celebration of his 80th birthday in 2023, the Foundation planted 80 trees in the following areas:
