03 Jun 2022

Children in the Wilderness South Africa Welcomes Revised Management Board for 2022

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Wilderness Safaris’ non-profit partner, Children in the Wilderness (CITW), is thrilled to announce the appointment of long-standing CITW South Africa Board member Mike White as its new Chairman. Mike’s appointment follows a restructuring of the board as CITW prepares for a post-pandemic future.

 “Our heartfelt thanks go to Malcolm McCulloch as the outgoing Chairman. His contribution over many years – and particularly during the recent turbulence of COVID – has been nothing short of exceptional. Malcolm remains on the Board, where his experience is greatly appreciated”, noted Mike.

“Supporting Children in the Wilderness gives me hope for the long term future of the world’s natural areas and wildlife.  People only protect what we love and understand, so it’s critical to equip today’s children with that love and understanding to be the custodians and protectors in the future”, he added.

Other departing Board members who have served CITW with unstinting commitment are Leoné Jooste (17 years) and Sue Snyman (seven years).

The current CITW South Africa Board now comprises Mike White (Chairman), Malcolm McCulloch, Charles Douglas (also the new Chairman of the Wilderness Wildlife Trust), Derek de la Harpe, Jan Mallen and Grant Woodrow – remarkably, all involved in some way with Children in the Wilderness and the Board, almost since the latter’s registration some 18 years ago.

CITW’s focus over the uncertainty of the pandemic period has naturally been on community support in general, but now that schools are returning to normal across Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia, where the programme is run, our regional co-ordinators are resuming their school and community efforts with renewed energy and focus.

“It’s been so inspiring to see our school curriculums starting up again, and to have recommenced many new empowerment projects across all our regions. Our vision to inspire positive action is back in full swing, and entrenches our goal to create sustainable conservation through leadership development”, concluded Mike.

Watch a video of CITW celebrating two decades of inspiring positive action in December 2021.