Africa needs investment and tourism to create opportunities for its people. South Africa especially merits support for its remarkable ongoing transformation.
We believe that our neighbouring rural communities are as important as our wildlife conservation efforts and sustainable ecotourism is dependent on achieving benefits for all parties – our guests, the local communities and our wildlife. With over 200 employees, Kariega is the largest employer in the Kenton-on-Sea area and is committed to playing an active role in community upliftment and social responsibility programs.
Kariega actively supports the “Umzi Wethu Training Academy for Displaced Youth”, a program initiated by The Wilderness Foundation relying on the economic promise of ecotourism to tackle the cycle of poverty and HIV/Aids with skills development and job placement among some of the most vulnerable members of society. The Umzi Wethu model was initiated following a feasibility study that assessed the job qualification needs of Eastern Cape parks and game reserves. The first three student intakes have graduated and been placed in secure, well-paying hospitality and field ranger jobs on game reserves, including at Kariega.
Kariega’s conservation volunteer program has a brilliant community outreach programme where our volunteers assist at a local rural farm school by teaching children basic subjects like English and Maths. We have identified this under-funded farm school near the reserve where we can make a real difference. The school is small, yet very under-staffed and local kids aged 4 to 15 years attend the school. Kariega volunteers visit the school one day a week and make valuable contributions to the children’s’ education, including teaching classes themselves. We also help with the maintenance of the school’s facilities and by giving sports lessons to the kids. The contribution to the school is real and both the children and the headmistress are very appreciative.
