Children in the Wilderness

One of the Trust’s cornerstone ideals is that of educating the children of Africa, and inspiring them with a love of and commitment to their natural heritage. This applies in particular to those living on the boundaries of many of Wilderness Safaris’ properties and camps. Children in the Wilderness (CITW) is a programme that fulfils this ideal and has proven extremely successful since its inception in 2001.

Children in the Wilderness is dedicated to helping children whose childhoods have been disrupted by life-threatening conditions such as disease, poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Using environmental education, therapeutic recreation and old-fashioned fun, Children in the Wilderness opens up the minds of children, increases their self-esteem, builds and strengthens their capacities to cope with life’s challenges and educates them with the life skills necessary to actualise their greatest potential. It focuses on building an awareness of and responsibility for their beautiful natural heritage.

In order to host CITW participants, Wilderness Safaris closes off some of its camps to guests and opens them to the children. Over the December 2004/January 2005 period, CITW hosted 1 512 "children-in-camp-days" throughout southern Africa:

• Botswana operated seven camps, three camps at Jacana Camp and four camps at Kaparota, each camp hosting 16 children.
• In Malawi, three camps were held at Chintheche Inn, each one accommodating 24 children.
• Namibia hosted three camps at Palmwag Rhino Camp, each one accommodating 24 children.

All the camps were highly successful, with a vibrant and friendly feel to them. During the course of the programme, the children participated in a range of activities that were both fun and educational, and inspired their creative talents such as arts and crafts, creative writing and drama. All of these activities are important in their own right but within the Children in the Wilderness programme, they form part of a greater plan that centres on instilling in the participants a sense of love and respect for the environment.

In this respect, the very setting of the camps themselves was a key factor; set in pristine wilderness areas, each camp offers an incredible diversity of animals and plants. Every day, the children set out with their guides to explore the conservation areas, either in Land Rover, mokoro, on foot or, in the case of Malawi, horseback. They were armed with notebooks, checklists and eagerness, all complemented by the inexhaustible knowledge and enthusiasm of their guides. After each activity they would return to camp, brimming with excitement over the things they had seen and the wonders of nature they had experienced. This was the ideal time to tap into and broaden their inquisitive minds through educational sessions that took place shortly after their return from the morning activity. These sessions were very informative but children's minds are always more receptive to the information that they discover for themselves, so there was always a highly interactive component to these sessions as well.

Botswana: This year, Mox, a street child who attended one of our Children in the Wilderness Camps in Botswana some years ago, rejoined us a "tent leader". After having attended the Children in the Wilderness Camp, Mox returned to school and now hopes to take up a career focusing on either tourism or the environment on completing his schooling in a few years’ time. Mox was visibly excited to be back in camp!

Namibia: For the first time in their lives, the children have been able to see the wonders of Namibia that have previously been out of their reach. The screams of delight as they ran up some of the world’s highest sand dunes signified only the beginning of the incredible experiences had by all. Several of our own Namibian guides and managers serve as role models to these children, showing them how their own hard work has led them from similar backgrounds to high achievements. They also show the children how important it is to keep a firm hold on one’s cultural roots. For the first time in their lives, the children have been able to see the wonders of Namibia that have previously been out of their reach. The screams of delight as they ran up some of the world’s highest sand dunes signified only the beginning of the incredible experiences had by all. Several of our own Namibian guides and managers serve as role models to these children, showing them how their own hard work has led them from similar backgrounds to high achievements. They also show the children how important it is to keep a firm hold on one’s cultural roots.

Malawi: The carefully structured programmes this year included traditional boat and game drives, teambuilding, games and AIDS awareness counselling. A key feature of the Malawian programme is the inclusion of as many of our own 'home-grown' guides as possible at our camps. These guides all come from the same poor rural background as the children and their success becomes a real motivational force in their lives. Lonjezo Madyero is thirteen years old and attended the Children in the Wilderness camp at Mvuu in 2004. Both of her parents have passed away and she lives with relatives in close proximity to Liwonde National Park. Due to poverty, there is poaching within the park from the local communities. While at the Children in the Wilderness Camp, Lonjezo learned about the importance of wildlife and the environment to Malawi’s economy. The camps within the park employ many people from her village, and visitors to the park bring money to the area. Lonjezo realised that income-generating activities like the "Liwonde Ladies" arts and crafts project helps to raise funds for the community and creates harmony between the communities and the national parks. Her favourite activities became the game and boat drives, and since CITW she has joined her school Wildlife Club. The carefully structured programmes this year included traditional boat and game drives, teambuilding, games and AIDS awareness counselling. A key feature of the Malawian programme is the inclusion of as many of our own 'home-grown' guides as possible at our camps. These guides all come from the same poor rural background as the children and their success becomes a real motivational force in their lives. Lonjezo Madyero is thirteen years old and attended the Children in the Wilderness camp at Mvuu in 2004. Both of her parents have passed away and she lives with relatives in close proximity to Liwonde National Park. Due to poverty, there is poaching within the park from the local communities. While at the Children in the Wilderness Camp, Lonjezo learned about the importance of wildlife and the environment to Malawi’s economy. The camps within the park employ many people from her village, and visitors to the park bring money to the area. Lonjezo realised that income-generating activities like the "Liwonde Ladies" arts and crafts project helps to raise funds for the community and creates harmony between the communities and the national parks. Her favourite activities became the game and boat drives, and since CITW she has joined her school Wildlife Club.

South Africa update: In the past year, CITW South Africa has been concentrating on building a permanent camp to be used on a year-round basis by children from all over the subcontinent. The camp is to be built in Mkambati Nature Reserve, in the Eastern Cape Province, on South Africa’s beautiful Wild Coast. This will be a major change from the camps that have been run so far, in that this facility at Mkambati in time will be able to host disadvantaged (mainly rural) children and children who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Mkambati Nature Reserve has a host of unused hospital-style buildings close to the main entrance gate. These buildings will be converted into a year-round children's camp and education centre with a full-time clinic for the children attending the camp. The old hospital will be rebuilt, renovated, rewired, expanded, painted, re-plumbed and refurbished to create a permanent camp facility that will accommodate 30 children every day of the year. Phase Two of the project is to ensure that a well-run clinic is built on the premises so that children with life-threatening conditions, including those with chronic medical needs, can be safely accommodated and hosted on site. The numbers of children affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in southern Africa are staggering, so this camp will also be able to host groups of children who are affected with the virus. In the past year, CITW South Africa has been concentrating on building a permanent camp to be used on a year-round basis by children from all over the subcontinent. The camp is to be built in Mkambati Nature Reserve, in the Eastern Cape Province, on South Africa’s beautiful Wild Coast. This will be a major change from the camps that have been run so far, in that this facility at Mkambati in time will be able to host disadvantaged (mainly rural) children and children who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Mkambati Nature Reserve has a host of unused hospital-style buildings close to the main entrance gate. These buildings will be converted into a year-round children's camp and education centre with a full-time clinic for the children attending the camp. The old hospital will be rebuilt, renovated, rewired, expanded, painted, re-plumbed and refurbished to create a permanent camp facility that will accommodate 30 children every day of the year. Phase Two of the project is to ensure that a well-run clinic is built on the premises so that children with life-threatening conditions, including those with chronic medical needs, can be safely accommodated and hosted on site. The numbers of children affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in southern Africa are staggering, so this camp will also be able to host groups of children who are affected with the virus.

Writings by participants:

FOLLOW THE RIVER AND YOU WILL FIND THE SEA
By Lesego Kadisweng (Children in the Wilderness Botswana Camp – December 2004)

"According to my school of thought, God thought he took human race out of paradise and I wonder if God is aware that there is another substitute for Eden, a paradise camp in the Okavango Delta called Kaparota, a Camp that has the very same features, as the way the garden of Eden is explained in the Bible, a camp full of love, joy, peace and prosperity, and as for the smiles. Scientifically I would say smiles here are perennial. This camp is small but it takes giant steps in every activity it does… I found it hard to think that people like the beautiful workers of Kaparota do really exist and if I was to give examples of all the good things the Kaparota staff do, you would have to give me an endless supply of tissue paper, as tears of joy want flowing down my cheek, like a river flowing from the top of Kilimanjaro." Annette – Camp Councillor Kaparota Camp – December 2004 "Kaporota Bana ba Naga 2004 was THE best thing that I have ever done. I enjoyed every minute of the programme and although I was spoilt to bits by the wildlife and birdlife, this was secondary to the experience I had with the children. I still cannot believe children can change in such a short period of time right before our eyes, nor can I believe that nearly all 67 children snuck into my heart and every time I let my mind wander I hear their voices and see their faces. Personally I have new friends and their influence has made me a more positive energised person."

We now have our website up and running and further information can be found on http://www.childreninthewilderness.com