Kwandwe Private Game Reserve outside Grahamstown has won yet another award, and representatives of the world-renowned reserve will travel to Singapore in October to receive it.
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Kwandwe Private Game Reserve outside Grahamstown has won yet another award, and representatives of the world-renowned reserve will travel to Singapore in October to receive it.
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Managed by the &Beyond luxury eco-tourism group, Kwandwe won the small hotels category for health initiatives, and was named the overall runner-up in luxury travel magazine Conde Nast Traveller’s “World Savers” awards.
The awards are being announced in the magazine’s September edition, and will be presented during the Conde Nast Traveller World Savers congress in Singapore on 19 and 20 October.
Kwandwe’s social development partner, the Angus Gillis Foundation, has implemented a unique positive health model across six rural villages in and around Kwandwe.
This dynamic initiative, designed to recognise the assets of a community, identify health champions within each village and pass on the skills that equip them to drive their own health initiatives, has done much to improve the wellbeing of over 2900 people living in rural areas.
The programme is coordinated by Kathryn Court, well known for her work in the health sector in the province.
The Positive Health Programme is a holistic approach to healthcare and includes aspects of food security
such as: making home remedies and reviving indigenous healthcare knowledge;
making hot boxes and solar cookers for the healthy preparation of food; developing and maintaining a healthy immune system and the power of positive thinking and extensive work around HIV/Aids, TB and other life threatening diseases.
Kwandwe co-owner Angus Sholto-Douglas said: “It is an honour to be a part of these awards. The credit
goes to our wonderful staff who are in the communities every day making a meaningful difference.
These are all small but powerful steps that have transformed the area.” Kwandwe has created employment for 200 people, most of whom live on the reserve with their families.
There are several other community initiatives established on the reserve to serve the daily needs of these families including a baby and toddler and pre-school programme, computer courses, library and homework room for the primary and high school learners, gym, craft initiatives for unemployed people and a skills training room where leadership and financial life skills programmes are offered.
“Guests can be assured that by choosing to travel to Kwandwe they are making a difference to ongoing biodiversity protection, conservation development and empowerment of neighbouring communities,” added Sholto- Douglas.
