Township kids take a walk on KZN’s wild side

Disadvantaged children from KwaZulu-Natal’s townships and areas adjacent to provincial conservation areas will soon be aware of the benefits of conserving nature and supporting environmentally protected areas, through a Kids and Parks Programme (KaPP) launched by provincial conservation body Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. According to CEO Khulani Mkhize, this programme will seek to address the role biodiversity conservation plays in the lives of the province’s children while exposing them to a complete guest experience within provincially- managed ecotourism destinations, such as Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park (HIP). “Our empirical findings have shown that no matter what social stratum a child comes from, today’s children appear to be subdued and uninformed about nature and their coexistence with nature,” Mkhize explained. “Kids and Parks effectively intertwines ecological intelligence with the regal experience of being a guest in a conservation area. ”The programme’s pilot launch took place in HIP over two days during March where the first 30 learners from three of the park’s neighbouring schools underwent experiential learning and environmental education under luxury circumstances. – Lloyd Phillips