Unlocking new-generation talent, influence, and potential is at the heart of Tomorrow’s Leaders focal area. Through initiatives like the Community Leaders Education Fund (CLEF) and the Echo Environmental Education program, we aim to equip young individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to drive positive change in their communities. CLEF provides tertiary education and vocational training bursaries, creating pathways for future leaders, while Echo inspires scholars aged 6 to 18 to develop a deep understanding of environmental stewardship. By nurturing the next generation, we are building a network of empowered leaders who will champion conservation and contribute to a sustainable future.
Operating since 1996, CLEF provides bursaries along with psycho-social support to rural youth from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Zanzibar and Kenya. It was born out of recognition by Community Leaders, that to truly break the cycle of poverty in rural Africa, the youth had to access tertiary level education in order to gain the skills to increase their employability.
The programme assists young people who have displayed leadership potential to acquire education and skills that would not otherwise be available to them. We invest in youth from our partner communities, with the intent that they realize their potential, become “beacons of hope”, support the ongoing sustainable development of their communities and in some cases bring these specific skills back into their communities (e.g. nursing, teaching, engineering). This not only changes the lives of the graduates substantially, but the lives of their immediate and wider family, through the ripple effect felt by income generation within a family. Our Vision 2030 goal is for 5% of school leavers in our partner communities to receive tertiary support with 80% of these students finding employment within 3 years.
Bursaries granted
Student recipients
Pass rate
Countries across Africa
The success of the CLEF programme lies in the strength of its carefully structured methodology.
Recipients receive partial funding towards their studies with advice on securing further financial aid e.g. government grants or corporate sponsorships.
Recipients are not restricted to a particular course of study or institution, they choose their own studies in an environment of their choice.
Support is given for just one year of study and then students must reapply. Renewal is dependent on their application to their studies.
Students have individual access to year-long psycho-social support including emergency crisis support, ongoing motivation and counselling.
Graduates have an annual award ceremony and workshop with previous graduates who share advice on post-university steps. They also do work readiness and a CV course.
In place of financial pay-back, students give back to their communities by doing community service, connecting gratitude with generosity.
Our Environmental Education Programme is known as ‘Echo’ for the resonance it has across people’s lives. Environmental Education is key to engaging communities in the issues and debates around their everyday choices and the impact that they have for the environment and conservation. Most often we find that the communities living closest to some of the world’s most renowned conservation areas, know the least about them and their value. Echo aims to change that by exposing community members, young and old, to the conservation land and seascapes that they are in fact, the custodians of, and working with communities to ensure that they feel the benefit of protecting the environment around them.
In our partner communities in South Africa, the Echo programme has become embedded into the school curriculum for Grade R to Grade 9 scholars (through primary and into early secondary school) across 99 schools. Our Echo school facilitators support the delivery of environmental education lessons and practical workshops in schools as well as the development of climate friendly school vegetable gardens. School facilitation is through Echo Stewards in South Africa and Community & Conservation Rangers in East Africa. Anchoring this process, we are continuously developing tailor made curriculum aligned Echo education manuals providing resources for pre-primary to early secondary school scholars which reflect the local community context.
Echo conservation lessons facilitated
Learners experienced a game drive
Echo stewards employed to support programme
Landscapes with active Echo programme
Reduce human-wildlife conflict and poaching using engagement to impart the value of wildlife
Improve the knowledge and career prospects of young people living close to conservation areas
Give access to environmental education to school children in rural communities
Instil respect and understanding in children on the natural resources around them
Promote sound enviro planning and resource use & facilitate economic upliftment in rural areas
Facilitate recognition of the need for a holistic, meaningful, sustainable conservation programme
Wild Impact is a Public Benefit Organisation registered in South Africa. Reg. No.: 930002115