“I am someone who cares for everyone in the village. I enjoy living among people and always encourage them to come together, avoid conflicts, and support one another. I encourage the community to treat children well, trust me with your kids, and bring them in peace. If problems arise, we should solve them and move forward. We are all building a future for the children, so it’s better to work together.”
California, Principal of Zeelkhethele daycare
“With the community we work hand in hand to make this creche sustainable. If I have a problem, I go to the community to say things are difficult at the creche, and they help. We must take care of our community, take care of our children, they are our future, our future leaders.”
Sharlotte, Founder of Ngalava Day Care
“Being a farmer, I still enjoy it, because here, farming is a true profession, we don’t have many other ways to earn money. Without money, a person can’t survive, so being a farmer gives you something in your hands to make a living. If you take care of your animals and farm well, you can be considered rich. But nowadays, there is very little rain. Even if you plough, you don’t get much, only cattle farming brings some return. You sell some, a few may die, but the rest give you money. The way I live now is fine; it’s the only life I really understand.”
“I wish everybody everything in life. The farmers trust me, because if there is something which they don’t know, they ask me. They expect me to assist them. I would like our communities to develop as much as they can when it comes to farming. Most of the farmers they just farm their cattle, they don't know how they can sell or how they can help their family.”
Mr. Pardon, animal technician
“There’s a beautiful song where a girl asks, ‘Why am I constantly in pain? Why am I sad? Help me out of my misery.’ And the answer is no, but God is saying, ‘I have a plan for you. I’m planting seeds and holding your world in a watering can.’ That’s how I see life. Don’t give up, and work together. Everyone is ending up in the same place anyway, it’s not a competition. It’s much easier than trying to compete with others. Hard work is what truly gets you where you want to be. You can’t expect things from other people; it’s hard work and collaboration that lead you to your goals.”
Monique, state veterinary
Charles, coach assistant
“My relationship with the community is strong because I spend time with their children and work with their animals. We teach the children how to play soccer, and they all know me. I encourage them to play and stay away from drinking and smoking. My mother was my biggest motivation, when I was growing up and playing soccer, she encouraged me to keep playing. Soccer kept me busy and gave me time to think about my future. Later, someone from the team noticed me, invited me to play with him, and inspired me to work alongside him. That experience shaped the path I follow today.”
Jerry, animal technician & football coach
“Conservation is about protecting species. By taking care of them, we ensure that biodiversity is sustained and habitats are supported. This can inspire many people to continue conserving, helping us work towards a sustainable future. If someone cares about the environment or nature, their care should be expressed through conservation of plants, animals, water sources, and everything that occurs naturally. I want to share the message of conservation with the community and future generations so they can see and appreciate the endangered species we see today, and continue the work of protecting them.”
Tebogo, Intern at Manyeleti Reserve
Richard, Intern at Manyeleti Reserve
“Tourism is an effective development strategy, especially for communities near tourism sectors, and conservation is what drives a successful tourism industry. Appreciating and protecting cultural, heritage, and human values comes through conserving the natural resources that nature provides to the current generation.”
Rirhanju, manager of Nourish eco-village
“No matter how difficult a situation may seem, there is always hope at the end of the tunnel. It is up to us as a community to support the younger generation, helping them believe and see that hope exists in every challenge they may face.”
Ripfumelo, Timvabati Foundation
“I fell in love with working with people, seeing how I can help the community and recognizing the value they already have. It’s surprising how often people don’t realize what they possess and fail to take care of the little things around them. The community and its children need to start believing in themselves and valuing themselves above all else. Change begins with them, they are the change they want to see. If they don’t change themselves, no external change can happen. Too often, people wait for someone else to act, but I believe that if each of us stands up and does the little we can, we can create a better place for everyone.”
Prince, intern at Nourish eco-village
“I wanted to be in a place where people feel open to ask questions and share their struggles. We need to take the first step by attending workshops and then returning to teach others. Let’s not keep knowledge to ourselves, let’s pass it on, just as our culture has always done. We should live this mindset as a way of striving for better, sharing knowledge, and practicing teamwork, because teamwork truly makes the dream work. I hope this becomes something applied in the community, not just a saying.”
Lion, farmer
Tryad, gardener at Nourish eco-village
Confidence, teacher at Nourish eco-village
“As human beings, we have to trust the process. I live by the slogan: trust the process. I believe that life is a series of steps we must go through to achieve what we want. It’s like planting a mango tree, you don’t expect it to produce fruit the next day. You have to trust its growth, nurture it, and give it time before it can bear mangoes. The same applies to humans: we must trust the process and put in the necessary work to reach our goals.”
Charity, priest and Hospitality Management at Nourish
“I believe education is the key to success. But even if formal schooling isn’t an option, there are still opportunities to use your skills and learn in other ways. I want to encourage others that it’s never too late to pursue education. You have to take the first step yourself, if you don’t, no one else will do it for you.”
Vusi, founder of Octopus
“We have lost our Ubuntu, our identity and sense of togetherness. In the past, many of our traditions brought people together, but today, new ways often isolate us and promote individualism. I wish we could bring back that sense of community. We used to say, ‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ but sadly, that wisdom no longer holds true.”
Joel, Indigenous teacher
Chris, snake catching trainer
“I would advise people to approach everything they do with passion. Bring energy, enthusiasm, and a willingness to ask questions in your field. Be ambitious, stay excited, and maintain a positive attitude in all that you do. In my line of work, dealing with reptiles, including venomous snakes and crocodiles, I encourage people to respect these animals. Often, they are misunderstood and seen as evil due to myths and superstitions. It’s important to learn the facts, understand the reality of these creatures, and approach them with patience and foresight.”
Gerhard, Soil scientist, off-road expert & writer
“Flooding has increased because our soils are disappearing. In the past, erosion—both natural and unnatural—has stripped away deep soils. Without soil, there is no vegetation, no antelope, no predators, and no tourism—a vicious cycle. To break it, we must start with the soil. Soil is life; let’s make soil ‘sexy’ again!”
Better, teacher
“Let’s love one another. If we truly appreciate and care for each other, life could be much simpler. I’m not saying we don’t love one another, but if we continue to show love and appreciation, things in life will become easier. Our forefathers lived with love, they helped each other whenever someone was in need. If we follow their example and share even the little we have, we can build stronger communities.”
Waston , facilitator at Hans Hoheisen Research Center
“When I was young, I never thought conservation was important. Now, I always encourage young people to change that mindset. I feel it’s time to share what I know and help shape their perspective. When I was young, there was no one to teach me about conservation, but now that I understand its importance, I am committed to passing that knowledge on to the younger generation.”
Pretty, Manager of Hluvukani health clinic
“It is important to understand the community’s needs. When the community communicates their needs, we can work hand in hand with them. What’s essential is that they take care of themselves. Health requires effort, they must visit the clinic to know whether they are healthy or not. A healthy community is a stronger community.”
Normalinda, facilitator at Hans Hoheisen Center
‘‘In everything I do, my community supports me fully, just as they uplifted me and helped shape who I am today. This is also a way of showing gratitude for their unwavering support. I believe that no dream is impossible, if you focus, work hard, and remember the people who helped you become who you are, you can make your dreams come true.”
“It’s important to work together. For example, when game reserves want to hire people, they go through community leaders, which is helpful for both us and our children. Similarly, at school, career guidance is very important, and teachers usually have that information. I would say, do your best to support the kids and youth in the community by sharing all the information and opportunities you have.”