Conservation Education With Rural Disadvantaged Children Detail

African Impact have proudly partnered with a Trust whose passion is focussed on the Baviaanskloof 'World Heritage Site' in the South Western Corner of the Eastern Cape of South Africa. 

This humble and spectacular region holds the key to a sustainable development opportunity that would serve as a benchmark success story, desperately needed in a world where we are feeling the side effects of prolonged environmental degradation and are seeking alternative options. The mission of the trust is to serve as a catalyst of sustainable change within the Greater Baviaanskloof region and the project has a two-fold focus – the Environment and our People and their Cultures.  

The project serves as a multi-functional platform to a whole new world of interest and experience and a visiting volunteer would, during their orientation, assist with and facilitate a discovery of the Baviaanskloof world-class biodiversity and natural splendours which normally opens the doors for personal growth and introspection. Interaction during this period would allow for focused and personalised volunteer actions for the rest of the stay.

The project aims to serve the region and its people in a sincere, dignified, passionate and dedicated manner towards the realisation of a blue print regional land-use plan that serves as a beacon in sustainable development.

Week 1 
Day 1 - Arrival and spend your first night in a Stone Cottage while getting to know your hosts. 
Day 2 - Orientation and overview of the area culminating in trip down to farm Xkagodisan for a week's stay (self catering). C omfortable yet rustic facility nestled on the Kouga River, 18 km from Town, no electricity so a real wild experience!
Day 3 – Hosts guide you through a day long journey of discovery where you find out, first hand ‘how the elephant became a rain-animal’.
Days 4 & 5 – Acclimatizing & relaxing
Day 6 – Hosts join you again and a day hike with a night under the stars completes your orientation.
Day 7 – Pack up and return to village of Twee Riviere (stone cottage accommodation). 
Day 8 – A free day to do some washing and just relax – preparations for volunteer work.

Week 2 

Help facilitate and oversee the 6-day camp of disadvantaged and vulnerable school children from Joubertina or assist in guiding a day trip. 

Week 3 

Spend a week interpreting, documenting and photographing various Rock Art Sites on the farm Xkagodisan, or preparatory surveys for canoe trails on the Kouga dam. Enjoy a week creating and presenting a school lecture at one of our local schools or spend a week surveying and mapping honeybush tea. Collect data and photographs and design a tourism pamphlet for one of the many new private entrepreneurs.

Other projects which volunteers may have opportunity to get involved in, which are in various stages of implementation and development include a Honey Bush Tea Project, Sustainable Harvesting of Sharptooth Catfish, Kouga Dam Canoe Trails and Xkagodisan Bush Camps and Horse Trails.