“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”
Feel inspired and energised on June 16, Youth Day in South Africa, as we celebrate the vibrant spirit of our young generation and the shaping of a brighter future through conservation at scale. From dynamic community development and environmental education initiatives to world-class tourism training, Peace Parks Foundation is igniting opportunities and unlocking the potential of our youth.
Essential to Peace Parks Foundation’s landscape-scale conservation approach are the communities that live in and adjacent to conservation areas—the people who most intimately rely on these natural spaces to provide food and energy, and support livelihoods. Supporting children and parents in remote areas with limited access to even basic amenities is vital in ensuring the sustainability of conservation initiatives. Peace Parks Foundation, in collaboration with like-minded organisations, does just that through infrastructure development, environmental awareness programmes, school eco-clubs, plant nursery projects, and more.
In order for conservation areas and eco-tourism destinations to succeed in the future, they require passionate people with tailored skills and expertise. The SA College for Tourism, a non-profit under the umbrella of Peace Parks Foundation with an intake of 90 students per year, trains young people from impoverished backgrounds through accredited courses in one of three tourism- and conservation-centred pillars: hospitality training, animal tracking, and livestock herding. Equipped with specialist knowledge, graduates go on to obtain gainful employment at lodges, reserves, and other nature-based or eco-tourism businesses throughout southern Africa.
The contagious smiles and laughter, and unwavering dedication and commitment from so many of the youth we have the privilege of working with, touch our hearts and give us hope that southern Africa’s future is indeed in safe hands. From all of us at PeaceParks.TV, Happy Youth Day! We can’t wait to shape a world with you and nature, living in harmony through conservation at scale.
Visit the Peace Parks Foundation website to see how you can get involved in projects that empower our youth and secure conservation at scale in the future.
