Education and Outreach
Rhino ART: Youth Conservation Education
Launched in 2013 in partnership with the Kingsley Holgate Foundation, the Rhino Art – ‘Let Our Children’s Voices Be Heard’ initiative harnesses the universal language of creativity — art, recreation, and theatre — to inspire conservation awareness among young people. Soccer tournaments are also hosted — often on weekends — bringing communities together while facilitators return to judge the children’s artwork and continue the conversation about conservation.
Future Rhino
Future Rhino is an inspiring youth-led conservation initiative that empowers schools across KwaZulu-Natal to take a stand for rhinos. Each school receives a life-size rhino wire frame to decorate, along with creating a personal conservation message to raise awareness. These unique artworks are displayed at schools, fundraising events, or by corporate partners, spreading a powerful message of hope and action. By combining art, education, and advocacy, Future Rhino inspires the next generation to become champions for our wildlife.
Community Leadership Workshops
Together with conservation partners, we host a series of community leadership workshops where leaders from the communities surrounding Game Reserves are able to gain valuable information on how the Reserve functions. A three-day programme covers a range of conservation issues, challenges and solutions. The workshops look to draw communities closer to the game reserve to ensure sustainability, overcome barriers to conservation and garner a greater understanding and appreciation of the role that protected areas play.
Youth Camps and Visits
Project Rhino partner reserves and NGO’s regularly bring youth into reserves to experience nature and physically see the animals they are being taught about. The programme is varied, in many instances depending on funding requirements, and includes a variety of activities such as day visits in Minibus taxis, game drives, overnight 1 to 3-day in-depth educational camps, to wilderness trails and dehorning experiences.
World Youth Wildlife Summit
A cornerstone of Project Rhino is education and awareness, with a primary focus on youth. In 2014, Project Rhino facilitated and hosted the first World Youth Rhino Summit, followed by a Winter Summit and then a third World Youth Wildlife Summit in September 2019. The 2019 flagship event was attended by 165 youth, 20 chaperones (primarily teachers), 35 conservation experts and 5 keynotes – 225 delegates in all from Africa, Asia and the Global North convened over four days at South Africa’s iconic Southern Africa Wildlife College.
