Proud graduates of the Southern African Wildlife College, 2006 © SAWC
Practical training in the field - students participating in anti poaching exercises. © SAWC
The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation provided a grant of £50,000 in 2007/08.
The Southern African Wildlife College began as a vision of a Southern African Development Community (SADC) centre of excellence in conservation education and training. WWF-SA, with funding from the German Government (KfW), made this vision a reality, and the College opened its doors in 1997 to its first students from southern Africa.
The College provides natural heritage managers from all over Africa, in co-operation with stakeholders, with the motivation and relevant skills to manage their areas and associated wildlife populations sustainably, and in a culturally acceptable manner. All training is aimed at providing practical skills which supplement the theoretical knowledge embedded in the core of the College’s modules. In addition, the College’s strict selection criteria ensure a situation where students also learn from each other through shared experience. The College also plays and important role in the provision of training for newly created Trans Frontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) within the SADC.
The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation has been supporting this capacity building initiative since 2001. It is the goal of the College to operate as a centre of excellence in terms of academic achievements as well as the quality of the training facilities and accommodation. The funds provided by The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation were used, amongst others, to build additional training venues and accommodation, equip the computer laboratory and provide transport. These grants enabled the College to create an environment that is physically and aesthetically conducive to productive learning. It also contributed to job creation, skills training and capacity building as the local community participated in the building activities.
Visit the Southern African Wildlife College website.