We work with rural communities to secure livelihoods, a healthy environment and benefits from conservation.

Informal Sector Business

People Nature Connect works with informal sector businesses in rural areas. We support our partners to strengthen their businesses, gain financial skills, diversify incomes, identify opportunities and access markets. We run workshops on business skills and personal development, and provide mentoring and peer-to-peer learning, and organize local business networking. We provide ongoing, long-term support. Our work emphasizes the benefits of conservation and healthy environments, especially when businesses operate near protected areas.

Our participants run spaza shops, make traditional beadwork, sew uniforms and clothes, sell chickens, eggs, and goats, have hairdressing salons, operate mini-bakeries and take-aways, and provide Internet and printing services. They organise events, provide décor for ceremonies and hire out mobile fridges. They farm vegetables and sugarcane, and sell perfume and bed linen. Some offer bed and breakfast accommodation to tourists.

Youth Connect

We support young people from rural areas in northern Kwa-Zulu Natal to gain access to education and work opportunities. Our schools programme introduces grade 9 learners to careers, and helps them to choose their matric subjects. Grade 12 learners explore careers in more depth, and we help them to apply for post-matric education and training. As part of this work, we help young people to understand the value of biodiversity and conservation.

Our work readiness programme supports young job seekers through internships, professional development and job applications.

Whether working with school learners or work seekers, we aim to build self-awareness, resilience and confidence. We provide psycho-social support through referrals to health care and social services.

Livelihoods

People Nature Connect supports conservation authorities and NGOs to formulate and implement their socio-economic development strategies and programmes. This includes capacity development of community conservation and development teams.

Contact details