Education is one of the highest goods. Unfortunately, many children around the world are excluded from this, which makes it very difficult or even impossible for them to enter working life later on – including in South Africa. Education is fundamental, especially with regard to nature and wildlife conservation. Children must be made aware of their environment at an early age, as this is the only way they will learn to protect it and live in harmony with it.

Together with the Savanna Trust, we have been able to support children in their school education over the past two years. Orphans who go to school in Mabarhule have received school uniforms, kindergarten bags, backpacks and school books. Investments were also made in the school’s infrastructure.

The Savanna Trust is a foundation of Savanna Lodge, which supports the villages around Sabi Sand. The villagers suffer from a high unemployment rate, have little access to health facilities and hardly any opportunities to escape poverty. Savanna Lodge supports the villages not only because 90% of its employees come from the surrounding villages, but also through the Savanna Trust, through which they can (co-)finance various projects in the area. This includes a home for the elderly, a health center for orphans who have lost their parents to HIV and AIDS or are infected themselves. They continue to support a youth choir, schools and they have launched a program to care for pets and farm animals in the area. Bettina and Christoph Weber went to the site to see for themselves and are delighted with the work of the Savanna Trust. We therefore look forward to continuing to support the foundation in the coming years.