Involving Local Communities
We are reaching out to our surrounding communities, encouraging sustainable land use and the protection of biodiversity.
Janet (Suni-Ridge) and Temba (local Zulu tourist guide) discussing wildlife protection and de-snaring at Muzi Pan with Marcel, a Leopard Walk Lodge guest
Young Environmental Ambassador’s Leadership Course
We have identified an urgent need to work with the rural communities, to initiate action towards sustainable living through environmental education, and have designed a Young Environmental Ambassador’s Leadership Course with ongoing communication.
With the YEA Leadership Course we teach older children how to take care of their communities in a sustainable way that will preserve their cultural and natural heritage.
The 5-day program we provide offers an understanding of biodiversity protection, water and sanitation management, animal husbandry and leadership skills.
False Bay School
When we established Suni-Ridge in 1992, most of the workers at surrounding farms were very poor and no school had been established for their children.
To provide a school for these children was to be our first community outreach priority. Read more about the False Bay School and the international SCHOOL Campaign.
This School Campaign invites school children from developed countries around the world to donate a small amount to the poor children at False Bay School.
Zulu Cultural Heritage
The preservation of Cultural heritage is very important. We are priviledged to be closely involved with our local communities. These photos were taken during a cultural day held at Makhasa School, where Janet Cutherbertson delivered a speech concerning culture, conservation and Eco-Tourism.
© Janet Cuthbertson with pupils during a cultural event held at Makhasa High School.
© Young Zulu dressed for Cultural event Makhasa High School
Water Catchment Forum
This region’s survival depends strongly on the availability of fresh water. When we experience a drought, the life blood of the lake is all used upstream in it’s catchment and when there is low rainfall, no water at all reaches the lake! There is often a discrepancy between agricultural abstraction quotas and availability of water for the rural areas too.
Read more about the Water Catchment Forum.
Expanding habitat protection of False Bay through interaction with neighbours and the community
© Young Zulu on cultural day holding a candle in recognition of HIV/AIDS
We are situated in the False Bay environs of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (previously called The Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park) World Natural Heritage Site where the international conservation requirement for the area, as ratified by the South African Government, is that a buffer zone should be developed around this valuable eco-system.
As one of the first wildlife reserves to be established in this buffer zone area, we have already extended our present boundaries of protection through the voluntary inclusion of surrounding properties. We aim to link our wildlife reserve to others so that we can expand the area of ecological protection and sustainable land use through eco-tourism.
There are still other properties that need to be linked to the protected area around False Bay. It is an area that has a limited rainfall and there are few sustainable land use options.
With the high conservation status of the World Natural Heritage Site area, one of the most viable land use options is eco-tourism, as this provides work and revenue for the local communities and protection of many animal, bird and other species of wildlife and their habitat.