At a wonderful celebratory event, Rhodes University Community Engagement nominated Amakhala Foundation as the WINNER of their “Community Partner of the Year” for 2021. The award certifies that Amakhala Foundation has committed valuable time, skills and energy on a regular basis to contribute to sustainable human and community development in and around Makhanda.

The partnership between RUCE and Amakhala started over 5 years ago with dialogues around community development. Since then, the partnership has grown and now covers the three elements of community engagement: volunteering, service learning and engaged research.

In the volunteering space, Amakhala is involved in two programmes, BuddingQ and the Engaged Citizenship Programme. With BuddingQ, Amakhala works closely with Sidbury and Moreson Primary Schools, reaching learners beyond urban areas. In the Engaged Citizenship Programme, Amakhala works with student volunteers to run environmental education programmes both in Makhanda and close to their surroundings.

In the service-learning space, Amakhala has partnered with RUCE and with the Environmental Science Department at Rhodes since 2017, running a service-learning course for Honours students, first at the Sandisulwazi High School, then Nombulelo High School, and this year at the Game Reserve itself. IN the engaged research space, Amakhala has opened its doors for student research from many different departments at Rhodes and other universities, ranging from social science, to water research and zoology.

Amakhala doesn’t do top-down community engagement, they engage at every stage and every level, and co-develop knowledge with partners, for mutual learning and benefit. Always open to new ideas and activities, Amakhala Foundation is a true community leader that is leading the way in responsible, socially-just, embedded, reflective and adaptive game ranch management.

To read more on how the Amakhala Foundation empower communities and conserve the environment, click HERE .

Photo: Joanna Berezza from RUCE, Jennifer Gush and Tammy Smith