The Ministry of Mines and Energy, through the PETROFUND, has shown its commitment to the NWR Enviro Kidz programme with a donation in monetary terms to the SOE’s environmental education programme which is wholly aimed at the nation’s children from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. With Namibia continuing to be faced by a capacity shortage in the fields of science and technology, the focus has shifted to ensuring sustainability in the environmental and tourism sectors, an area on which Namibia depends on immensely and also one of the essential elements to achieving Namibia’s Vision 2030.n this age of growing concerns about the environment and for the impacts of climate change, it becomes even more important that the sector role players create and nurture a generation that is equipped to deal with the ever-increasing challenges of uncertainty and change. Namibia Wildlife Resorts’ mandate to lead environmental sustainability in Namibia National Parks is akin to such innovative efforts.
The Enviro Kidz programme, launched in 2008 by Namibia Wildlife Resorts presents an opportunity for Namibia to start putting into place the necessary mechanisms to enable it to cope with the strain on its fragile but yet versatile environment. The youth of this country are central to this cause.
The overall aim of the NWR Enviro-Kidz programme is:
“to create and nurture future generations of Namibians with a love and appreciation for their natural resources and environment, and awareness for responsible practices which will secure these assets in perpetuity”
Involving the youth of Namibia from an early age ensures that they have an informed voice in future decisions that affect their unique living environments and ultimately their livelihoods. For generations Namibia’s natural resources have been a cornerstone of this great nation and with the threats to sustainability ever increasing due to human induced as well as climatic factors, a change in paradigm and thinking is needed. With the Enviro Kidz programme, Namibia Wildlife Resorts aims to bridge the generations by creating a platform where Namibian children can learn about their unique surroundings and contribute positively to the conservation and preservation of Namibia’s natural habitats. The programme features thematic excursions to Namibia’s National Parks and places of interest where they will be under the mentorship of NWR’s experienced guides. Whereas the excursions will prove to be an eye-opener to many children who would otherwise have found it difficult to attain such experience, it is envisaged to help instill a code of caring for the environment in a range of imaginative ways. Species conservation, the effective use of resources, recycling and litter reduction are just a few projects children can expect to be introduced to.
Namibia Wildlife Resorts intends to grow the programme into an effective outdoor and out-of the classroom experience which adds tremendous value to and complements Namibia’s education curriculum; thus further strengthening the capacity of the state to deal with the pressure on the environment and in so doing achieve the national development goals as stipulated in the National Development Plan 3 and Vision 2030.