The Wildlands’ ‘Big Day Out’ event series was launched in 2012 to inspire and inform children neighboring conservation areas around environmental issues, in association with the popular Bonitas Wild Series events. Just fewer than 800 children from 40 schools around the province participated in the community series in its inaugural year.
The Bonitas Wild Series (MTB & Trail Running events) are hosted by the Wildlands Conservation Trust within some of the country’s most beautiful natural areas, to raise funds to support conservation efforts within the areas or reserves with a specific focus on endangered species such as the Bearded Vulture and Wild Dog.
Before every event, Wildlands hosts a ‘Big Day Out’ for qualifying community schools with the support of donors, Bonitas Medical Fund, N3TC, Old Mutual and Coca-Cola,.
A ‘Big Day Out’ involves a 2-5km “mini-challenge” run with prizes and media attention, as well as an educational morning of activities where children learn about the local ecology and develop skills they’re going to need in life, such as team-work, planning and how to overcome obstacles.
The legacy of the ‘mini-challenges’ started with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, when staff made a decision to include their neighbouring community children into the buzz and fanfare of the main sporting events. To add a positive environmental element, children needed to bring in a collection of waste in order to participate.
Wildlands now works with local partners across the Wild Series –Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, South African National Parks, Karkloof Conservancy and Cowan House School – to implement these community events.
“We had a very successful first year,” said Simone Dale, Strategic Manager for Wildlands’ uBuntu Earth programme, “the children really enjoyed themselves and all of them took at least some small learning from the day. We like to focus on developing individuals, because we believe responsible citizens, make responsible environmental decisions.” The uBuntu Earth programme focuses on building a new kind of ‘citizenship’, one which sees individuals taking responsibility for themselves and their environment; building capacity, leadership skills and knowledge.
Grade 7 pupil, Mncube Phiwokuhle from the iMfolozi Big Day Out event, said: “I had a great time here and I have learned so much about nature. I will teach others that were not here about some things I have learned so that they will also know how to protect nature and what the benefits are for them. I enjoyed learning about poaching and overcoming limitations.”
The donation of 120 bicycles by soft drink company Coca-Cola to the initiative has also contributed significantly to its success, with local children – often from destitute area’s – being rewarded with bicycles that add significant value to their lives.
Nomfezeko Hlatshwayo, who won a bicycle at the Mont-Aux-Sources Big Day Out, in the Royal Natal National Park said, “My life has changed after receiving this bicycle. I use it to go to school and church on Sundays. Although I never arrived late at school before now I can do other things in the morning and also get to school on time. It also makes things easy for the whole family because they also use it for shopping on the weekend.”
Eight young ‘Green Heroes’ were also selected to take part in a 4 day ‘Indaba’ focused on nurturing their leadership potential and environmental awareness.
“We really hope that we’re inspiring these young people to ‘be the change they want to see in the world’; they are after all the future custodians of our planet”, said Dale.
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)