Community empowerment, infrastructure, conservation and education
The African Bush Camps Foundation is a registered not-for-profit organisation that is committed to empowering rural communities. They partner with communities on the outskirts of wildlife areas to become economically sustainable whilst ensuring that natural resources are protected and cared for.
They believe that by partnering with these communities in establishing sustainable programs of education, income generation, conservation awareness and holding community events, they can together improve the communal quality of life and achieve long term conservation through responsible tourism. There are over 60 projects taking place at any given time.
Mola Community Clinic and School, Zimbabwe
The village of Mola is near Lake Kariba in northern Zimbabwe. Tongan communities in this area were displaced when Lake Kariba was built and filled between 1958 and 1963. This remote area has seen little support in terms of infrastructure. Most Tongans farm on a subsistence basis. A handful of tourism outfits around Lake Kariba provide employment for the Tongan people including Africa Bush Camps’ Bumi Hills. The vision is to improve the future of Tongan people in Mola.
Current projects
Schools – Right now, the school is being rebuilt because both the Mayovhe Secondary and Mangwara Primary are in desperate need of new buildings, toilets, teacher housing plus supplies and the establishment of permanent water supply. Solar power is needed before students can access and learn how to use a computer.
Medical facilities – The Clinic at Mola is very run down and needs to be rebuilt. Currently the foundation is organising two containers from Australia to be loaded with medical equipment including beds, examination tables, blankets, linen right down to the basics like stethoscopes, baby cribs and thermometers.
Human/wildlife conflict – The foundation is addressing the high level of human/animal conflict. Several bomas are being built to house village stock (cattle, goats) at night. Screened with canvas on all four sides, this allows protection of the livestock from wild animals. Cattle fertilise the farmland thus allowing better wuality crops. The bomas are moved every two weeks to another farmer’s field to ensure all benefit. This huge change in culture for the village has been successful. The container departing Australia will also carry 20 boma screens to be used in the Mola area.
“This is the start for the people of Mola and we hope that in years to come through ongoing holistic land management and education, health and maternal welfare that the lives can be improved quite remarkably.”
To find out more about African Bush Camps Foundation, please watch the video below and visit the website.
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