ADVERTORIAL
Children in the Wilderness Celebrates 20 Years of Environmental Education
As a non-profit organisation supported by the ecotourism company Wilderness Safaris , Children in the Wilderness ( CITW ) aims to facilitate sustainable conservation methods through teaching the children in rural areas about the importance of conservation and caring for the environment . Having just celebrated 20 years , the organisation takes a look back at the standout moments that have defined the programme .
HOW IT STARTED
The youth are our future – destined to be our planet ’ s custodians , a role now more critical than ever . That is why , 20 years ago , Wilderness Safaris made a commitment to rural African children by founding CITW , a non-profit partner organisation . The CITW ’ s main role is to offer life skills training , leadership development and environmental education to children from remote villages neighbouring Wilderness Safaris ’ areas of operation . To date , CITW has enriched the lives of more than 40,000 children in eight countries – Botswana , Namibia , Malawi , South Africa , Rwanda , the Seychelles , Zambia and Zimbabwe – creating new armies of young eco-warriors .
To achieve this momentous task , CITW has established dozens of Eco-Clubs at primary school level . The clubs meet weekly , and are led by Eco-Mentors ( specially trained teachers ), with the focus of these meetings being to spread conservation learnings and create an ethos of conservation in the children who attend . Once a year , across the regions , Wilderness Safaris ’ camps that are located closest to a partner school close their bookings to paying guests so that they can host up to 30 local children for four days of immersion in the wilderness , offering them wildlife experiences , practical training and environmentally-themed games .
CREATING SOMETHING SPECIAL
The programme doesn ’ t end there , as there is also the Youth Environmental Stewardship Programme ( YES ), which supports secondary school students who show an aptitude for environmental leadership , building their skills and preparing them for careers in conservation and related fields . CITW also offers up to 600 scholarships annually to help students finish school , as well as post-graduation employment counselling , further training , and internships . Over the years , CITW graduates have gone on to become field guides , chefs , camp managers , pilots and teachers .
This incredible investment is made possible through funds facilitated by the Wilderness Wildlife Trust , generous donors ( our guests and supporters ), and major fundraising events like the Nedbank Tour de Tuli mountain bike event , which has been held since 2005 and has raised R30- million for CITW so far .
MEMORABLE MILESTONES
Children in the Wilderness highlights over the last two decades are many , but here are 20 standout milestones along the way , with many more to come .
2001
First Milestone … Actor / philanthropist Paul Newman introduces Wilderness Safaris to the Hole in the Wall Gang concept ( including healing , leadership , team-building and other programmes ) for seriously ill children , inspiring Children in the Wilderness ’ founding , and their first camp in Botswana .
2002
Second Milestone … CITW ’ s partnership with Pack for a Purpose launches , encouraging travellers to pack school supplies and other essentials for needy children around the world , now delivering to children in more than 60 countries .
2005
Third Milestone … CITW launches its partnership with the Mother Bear Project , a global community of knitters and crocheters creating adorable teddy bears to give to disadvantaged African children . In the words of the project ’ s founder , these bears evoke “ feelings of comfort and love ,” and are a gift that “ restores balance to damaged lives .”
Fourth Milestone … Tour de Kruger is launched , taking cyclists on a 70km ride each day for five days in the Kruger National Park , and raising R1.4-million for CITW over four years .
Fifth Milestone … Tour de Wilderness launches , later becoming the Tour de Tuli , a multi-day mountain bike adventure traversing some of Africa ’ s most pristine wilderness areas in Botswana , South Africa and Zimbabwe , quickly becoming CITW ’ s biggest fundraising event .
2007
Sixth Milestone … The first CITW scholarships are awarded to 36 secondary school students . Today , CTIW offers up to 600 scholarships annually .
2013
Seventh Milestone … The first of the Gordon Gilbert ‘ Soccer in the Wilderness ’ workshops takes place in the Zambezi region , run by professional soccer player Gilbert , together with the CITW . These soccer-themed clinics discuss conservation with youth in Zambia and Zimbabwe ,
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