The Abraham Gariseb Primary School in the Sorris Sorris Conservancy has received seven computers valued at approximately N$100 000 from tourism company Ultimate Earth and its Conservation Travel Foundation (CTF).
The Sorris Sorris Conservancy is located close to Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain, and the Ugab River. It is part of the Red Mountain joint management area, established in 2018.
The donation aims to improve learners’ access to technology and digital learning opportunities in remote conservancy.
According to the company, the initiative is the third rural school computer donation programme along with CTF, following similar support to schools in Khorixas and Grootberg near Kamanjab.
The donation forms part of the company’s broader investment in education and community development in Namibia’s conservation areas. The company, along with CTF, has supported private-school scholarships for children from conservancies and funded renovations to classrooms, ablution facilities and teacher accommodation at rural schools.
The company’s managing director, Tristan Cowley, said investing in education was essential to ensuring that conservation benefits the people living alongside protected landscapes.
“If conservation is going to be sustainable, it has to contribute to the future of the people who live in these landscapes,” Cowley said.
He added that the company viewed education as a meaningful way to support rural communities and equip young people for future opportunities.
“These children are the future of these communities, and potentially the future custodians, entrepreneurs, guides, conservationists, and tourism professionals of Namibia,” he said.
The computers are expected to give learners greater access to information and help them develop digital literacy skills, which are increasingly important in education and the workplace.
Ultimate Earth said its community investments are guided by the belief that conservation should extend beyond wildlife protection to include economic opportunities and improved livelihoods. Through conservation-based tourism, the company aims to generate employment, skills development and investment while creating economic incentives to protect Namibia’s natural landscapes.
According to Cowley, the initiative highlights the role that partnerships between tourism businesses and conservation organisations can play in supporting rural education and expanding opportunities for learners in remote communities
-edeklerk@nepc.com.na
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