Menu
Menu
Menu
The African Habitat Conservancy Foundation (AHCF) is a registered Public Benefit Organisation that has been instrumental in supporting sustainable development initiatives in the surrounding communities of Babanango, Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa. The Foundation works together with Babanango Game Reserve (BGR), MCL (a community engagement group under the banner of BGR (PTY) Ltd, the land-owning Trusts, and other stakeholders to identify and implement projects that promote enterprise development and support marginalised communities.
Some of the projects undertaken by the Foundation for the benefit of BGR’s communities and Trusts’ beneficiaries include vocational training, establishing boreholes for freshwater by solar-powered pumps, reading glasses for those in need, assistance in sustainable grazing practices, and supporting and promoting sports events such as soccer among the youth. Through these projects, the Foundation is linking the establishment of BGR to broader socio-economic benefits, particularly those aligned with sustainable resource management and activities that align with conserving the natural environment for future generations.
Piped water and the municipal grid don’t reach most small households in rural clusters in water-scarce Babanango. This means young girls and elderly women must travel long distances to use old, hand-pumped municipal boreholes. Our solution brings solar energy to each borehole, which makes pumping much easier.
Thus far, the foundation has established 10 new boreholes and has done 4 borehole conversions. This has provided direct access to water to 300 households.
We currently have 12 new borehole proposal requests and 5 conversion requests that require our support.
New Borehole | Conversion |
|---|---|
R190 000 | $10 267 |
R90 000 | $4 863 |
The reserve has 70 schools on its boundaries. Our community initiative involves building schools, developing existing schools, as well as providing teacher training and kids conservation camps. We aim to give local children hope by equipping them with conservation education and future career opportunities. A 90-minute walk to school daily is common for children in this community. And since early learning and nutrition during the first 1000 days of a child’s life impacts their future development, they must receive the best opportunities.
Establishment of an Early Childhood Learning Centre | |
|---|---|
R1 500 000 | $80 552 |
Additional Classrooms (IT Class, Science Labs) | |
|---|---|
R850 000 | $45 646 |
School Library Renovation | |
|---|---|
R300 000 | $16 110 |
The key aim is to improve access to healthcare. Early intervention with healthcare is challenging due to the transport issues of this community. Mobile health clinics provide chronic medications, prenatal care, and medical support to the community. The programme intends to partner with the Department of Health, which staffs and stocks the mobile clinics.
Babanango town, with a substantial population and being the transport hub for surrounding rural villages, only has access to a mobile clinic, with the closest clinic over 20km from the town, thereby exacerbating the challenges faced by staff and community from this area.
Mobile Clinic | |
|---|---|
R1 800 000 | $96 662 |
39 Seater Patient Bus | |
|---|---|
R1 200 000 | $60 370 |
39 Seater Patient Bus | |
|---|---|
R1 200 000 | $62 885 |
Education reduces conflict around conservation. For young adults, there is ranger training at SA Wildlife Health College, or an opportunity to work as an eco ranger clearing alien plants.
The removal of invasive alien plants contributes to the overall improvement of the reserve including the wilderness sense of place i.e. the tourism value. The improved ecological services will enhance drought resilience inside the reserve and also improve services to downstream users. The restoration of the landscape will also increase the carrying capacity which will in turn contribute to improved game viewing.
Alien Plant Eradiction | |
|---|---|
R30 000/ha | $1 611/ha |
Junior Ranger Series | |
|---|---|
R230 000 | $12 355 |
Junior Ranger Series | |
|---|---|
R250 000 | $13 423 |
Our community gardens provide food, community touch points, and income for many groups of women who plant and sell excess goods to the community. This is important because the community is mostly the elderly and school-going children.
Establishment of Community Gardens | |
|---|---|
R200 000 | $10 749 |
Community Garden Starter Pack | |
|---|---|
R25 000 | $1 344 |
Small Farmer Support Pack | |
|---|---|
R25 000 | $1 344 |
With limited access to entertainment, sport provides camaraderie and exercise for youth. Registration in the regional SAFA league requires local teams to have an identifiable kit, annual registration fees and to adhere to league rules. Your funds will help support registration and sports kits.
SAFA Annual Registration | |
|---|---|
R3 000 | $161 |
Sponsored Team Kit (Soccer) | |
|---|---|
R5 000 | $269 |
Sponsored Team Kit (Netball) | |
|---|---|
R4 000 | $215 |
to become part of reimagining the community around Babanango Game Reserve. When you donate to the African Habitat Conservation Foundation, you help change the lives of local communities and leave your very own legacy through AHCF.
To get involved, contact Thina Nyathi:
Babanango Game Reserve
Highway R34
Vryheid, 3100
GPS Location of Nhlopeni Main Gate:
28° 10′ 30″ S
31° 5′ 20″ E
© 2024 All rights reserved | Website by Brand Candy | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy