Empowering South Africa's youth through conservation education: SANParks and GWF collaboration
SANParks CEO Hapiloe Sello and Good Work Foundation CEO Kate Groch sign a cooperation agreement that will see the establishment of more digital learning campuses in the vicinity of national parks, benefiting township and rural communities.
Image: SANParks
In a groundbreaking development, South African National Parks (SANParks) and the Good Work Foundation (GWF) have signed a memorandum of understanding that promises to increase access to conservation education and generate job opportunities for young rural South Africans residing near national parks.
This partnership serves as a beacon of hope, aiming not only to educate but also to empower local communities through sustainable practices deeply tied to South Africa's rich natural heritage.
Schoolchildren attending supplementary classes at Good Work Foundation’s digital learning campuses learn how to make and code Lego Spike robots using technology.
Image: GWF
The agreement outlines ambitious plans to broaden GWF’s existing initiatives by establishing digital learning campuses adjacent to some of the country's most iconic national parks. Currently, GWF operates five campuses in Mpumalanga, focusing on providing digital education to schoolchildren and training opportunities for young jobseekers. These include a central campus in Hazyview and four satellite campuses situated in villages near the renowned Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Additionally, a GWF campus exists in Philippolis, a town in the Free State Karoo.
Under the new partnership, GWF will expand its reach to rural and township communities surrounding different national parks, beginning with the Greater Kruger National Park. The existing Hazyview campus will serve as a vital gateway hub, enhancing digital skills while broadening the scope of conservation education and job prospects for youths in the area. Furthermore, additional campuses are planned for development in the Greater Kruger region to meet its growing educational demands.
As part of this collaboration, GWF will also set up campuses in key “mega living landscapes” identified by SANParks. This initiative aims to bolster local communities adjacent to such national parks as Addo Elephant, Golden Gate Highlands, and Augrabies Falls.
Kate Groch, CEO of GWF, passionately states, “GWF’s mission is to connect young South Africans with the skills they need to access opportunities for careers in South Africa’s rural spaces.” This commitment, she argues, aligns seamlessly with SANParks’ long-term vision for 2040, which advocates for the creation of mega living landscapes anchored by sustainable, community-driven conservation efforts.
Good Work Foundation (GWF) Conservation Academy students marvel at seeing an elephant up close in its natural habitat. More young people adjacent to South Africa’s national parks will soon have the opportunity to access vocation-specific conservation education, thanks to a new partnership between SANParks and GWF.
Image: GWF
Groch also remarked on GWF's proven success over a decade in applying a digital education model that has effectively engaged over 13,500 young people across its current operations.
“This partnership with SANParks signifies an opportunity to scale our initiatives, tapping into local economies in rural areas,” she explained, noting how both organisations can achieve their respective goals — SANParks’ conservation vision and GWF’s educational strategy aimed at 2030.
Through this collaboration, local communities — including educators — will be positioned as custodians of South Africa's natural environment, opening channels for employment within the conservation sector. The partnership’s primary objective is to address the stark reality that many children living near national parks have never witnessed the wildlife that surrounds them, a gap this initiative seeks to bridge.
Moreover, students participating in GWF’s Career Academies and Bridging Year Academy will be afforded valuable internships and work placements at SANParks establishments, significantly boosting their career prospects. Groch, with her background as a zoologist and environmental education advocate, sees the partnership as a full-circle moment.
“If we can connect young people to job opportunities that also support the conservation of our beautiful wild spaces, we are contributing to a broader vision of sustenance,” she added.
Exciting opportunities await as GWF and SANParks work together to challenge conventional learning paradigms, focusing on how youth in rural South Africa gain access to education and careers within their local economies. This collaboration looks to inspire not just career pathways, but a renewed connection with the country’s magnificent wildlife.