Andrew Muir, executive director of the
Wilderness Foundation South Africa, will present the progress of the Umzi Wethu
Training Academy for Displaced Youth since its founding four years ago. Umzi
Wethu relies on the
economic promise of ecotourism to tackle the cycle of poverty and HIV/AIDS head
on with skills development and job placement among some of the most vulnerable
members of society: youth on the verge of adulthood. Umzi Wethu targets youth
that show resilience and ambition – but despair of opportunities to support
their households – and transforms them into highly employable young adults. Since
the last ABCG presentation, Umzi Wethu has
branched out from one hospitality-focused academy in Port Elizabeth in the
Eastern Cape into a second, rural, game-ranger focused academy that is soon to
expand and offer training for youth to work in sustainable agriculture.
The Wilderness
Foundation has embarked on a phase of model refinement, partner recruitment,
and roll-out to result in replication of Umzi Wethu Academies across Southern
Africa and wherever ecotourism, poverty and HIV/AIDS intersect.
Also addressed in Andrew’s presentation
will be the Wilderness Foundation’s other youth programs that emphasize
HIV/AIDS awareness and stigma reduction, and environmental ethics and
leadership skills, as well as engaging political and business leaders in
conservation. Andrew is Chair of the Eastern Cape Parks Board and founded
Indalo, the Eastern Cape private game reserve association. Wilderness
Foundation has launched the Green Leaf standard of management, and it is now
being deployed among many ecotourism establishments.