19 Nov 2024

Wilderness Safaris Company has made it its mission to assist vulnerable families from Sankoyo and villages affiliated to Okavango Community Trust with food hampers.

The company’s gesture is in response to drought condition and low rainfall in Ngamiland which had made lives difficult for rural communities who depend on subsistence farming.

Over 300 families in the five villages affiliated to OCT benefited from the food relief drive last week while in Sankoyo, 50 households received the same on Monday, that being part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility.

Kgosi Gokgathang Moalosi of Sankoyo expressed gratitude to Wilderness for the generous support.

He said what they did, was a demonstration of love and care and would make a difference in the lives of the beneficiaries.

“Food is a necessity. It is a pity that some families experience hunger and as such food donations emerge as a powerful way to make a difference in their lives. Food donation not only provide sustenance but also empower communities,” he added.

Initially the company was to assist the needy persons who were not benefiting from government social safety nets.

However, Kgosi Moalosi said the community took a decision that the assistance should benefit all needy persons even those registered and assisted by the council considering the fact that some situations required more support.

He also appreciated that Wilderness also had another activity in which the company assist the communities with tractors and agriculture implements during rainy seasons in a bid to increase production and improve their livelihood. 

“The machinery is kept at our community trust premises and this is an indication that the company goes beyond just being a partner in business and it takes an interest in empowering the community and enhancing food security,” he added.

Wilderness purchases excess crops after harvesting for use in camps in support of the community. The company had a long term relationship with Sankoyo trust as it was operating Sandawana lodge in NG33 concession which belonged to the community.

Wilderness chief of staff, Mr Dawson Ramsden confirmed the assistance noting that they had long standing commitment to support their partner communities.

In addition, he said Southern Africa was coming out of a drought caused by the El Nino effect, noting that last year, they ploughed for the communities but due to minimal rainfall, the harvest was not satisfactory.

“As a company, we cannot divorce the relationship between the conservation areas we operate with and the communities or partners we work with. We realied that with the little harvest from the last ploughing season, we should assist with food hampers to complement what they had,” he added.

Mr Ramsden, further noted that the gesture would also take place in December and January next year. The company, he said had injected over P200 000 towards the food relief drive. ends