Children in the Wilderness

Children in the Wilderness is a non-profit organisation supported by ecotourism company Wilderness Safaris, which aims to facilitate sustainable conservation through leadership development and education of children in Africa.

Insight, care and commitment are required to conserve Africa’s pristine wilderness and wildlife areas. If we are to ensure that these places continue to exist – in this generation and those to come – we need the rural children of Africa to understand the importance of conservation and its relevance in their lives. Hence, the Children in the Wilderness programme: an environmental and life skills educational programme for children, focusing on the next generation of decision-makers; inspiring them to care for their natural heritage and to become the custodians of these areas in the future.

This is achieved in a variety of ways – from hosting Eco-Club programmes at local schools, to running camps at Wilderness Safaris and partner camps, for the children within the rural communities that live on the edges of the wild areas of Africa.

Sue Goatley, Program Coordinator

Sue is a born and bred second generation Zimbabwean and spent her early childhood growing up in the rural farming communities. She trained at Zimbabwe Teachers College and had 25years Primary School teaching experience in both South African and Zimbabwean Schools prior to joining Wilderness Safaris in 2008, where she initiated the Children In The Wilderness programme for Zimbabwe. Today she is the CITW Programme Coordinator for the Zambezi Region which incorporates both Zimbabwe & Zambia, as well as being responsible for Wilderness Safaris Community Programmes. Sue has a passion for teaching and believes that through the provision of a good foundation in literacy and environmental education for rural children, hope and ambition can be restored and doors of opportunity will open for the youth of Africa.