How Drakensberg tourism helps rural communities

Many resorts and tourism businesses in the Drakensberg region are adjacent to rural communities and offer much-needed employment.

Businesses also provide an opportunity for skills development and often these initial semi-skilled work experiences open doors for further study and advancement. Developing people, growing communities and making progress is essential.

Resorts and businesses play a vital role in supporting educational projects in the area. In the Northern Drakensberg, the Khanyisela Project impacts the lives of almost 1,000 children and more than 50 women through 18 Early Childhood Development centres throughout the greater amaZizi Village.

It begins with BabyBoost, a programme which works with mothers and carers and emphasises the importance of responsive caregiving.

Recent studies show that the foundation for all learning takes place in the first 1,000 days, from conception until the child is about two years of age and this is a critical window for development.

Neurological pathways are growing, and by the time a child is five years of age, 95% of brain development has taken place.

The focus then shifts to Early Childhood Development & Care where the project helps build classrooms, upgrades facilities, and purchases educational games and resources.

Daily, children are provided with porridge, and stimulating classroom environments promote learning.

Teaching practitioners are trained and regular workshops provide continual professional development where ideas and knowledge are shared and progress is made.

The Wednesday community reading afternoons often see more than 100 children gather to listen to stories and partnerships with organisations like Book Dash allow for children to be gifted with books to take home.

It’s a wonderful story that helps address the reading crisis in our country and works to ensure that children have a solid foundation for future learning.

We believe that by focusing on early childhood development, we contribute to the wider impact: transforming not just the lives of children, but their communities, and ultimately our country, making us healthier and more competitive in the global economy. – Megan Bedingham

• This article was first published in the first edition of The Drakensberg Magazine