Covid-19 Relief and Recovery Support
Helping rural communities at this critical time
Due to the potentially devastating impact of COVID-19, the South African government acted early, declaring a nationwide lockdown in March 2020. This swift and decisive action definitely saved lives and allowed health services to prepare and increase their capacity, but the negative effects on the economy and livelihoods in communities nearby Singita Sabi Sand and the Kruger National Park – as well as other areas of the country – have been profound.
Covid-19 relief and recovery support
The Singita Lowveld Trust (SLT) has been unwavering in our support of our Community Partners through this global pandemic. The evolution of our COVID Relief has shifted from short emergency relief in 2020 – providing monthly food parcels to the many pre-schooler families who battled through hard lock down with no source of income or government grant support. In 2021, we adjusted our covid relief support as the South African lock down levels eased, ensuring all 17 of the Early Childhood Development centres we support were able to meet all the Covid Protocols. We provided all the centres with the necessary PPE materials as well as health and safety training for centre manager and staff to ensure the centres could safely open their doors and successfully remain open throughout 2021.
Thanks to strong donor support, the SLT and its partner Africa Foundation delivered 2 863 food parcels to the neediest children and their families at 26 preschools in the region, helping approximately 11 500 local community members. The food parcel programme has now been suspended due to the lifting of the lockdown, although we continue to monitor the situation.
Subsequent covid relief has focused on ensuring all ECD Centres could open safely and remain open despite this pandemic throughout 2021. All have welcomed the children back to their classrooms, with all 17 centres staying open throughout 2021 – a remarkable achievement that only 4% of all National ECD centres managed to achieve. Each term the schools’ needs are reviewed and necessary PPE resources (mobile hand washing stations, sanitisers, thermometers, kitchen and classroom cleaning materials, masks) delivered.
We are extremely grateful to our donors for making these ECD Centres a safe haven for the children as the pandemic progresses.
As we help our community partners navigate the road towards recover, the emphasis of our covid recovery is now on helping them build back better, with our fundraising will now returning to our strategic annual ECD Resource Drive which provides essential educational toys and equipment to stimulate the children’s holistic development. We are proud to be holding our first ECD Resource Drive in 18 months. In December 2021, we will be equipping the 19 – 36-month classrooms to ensure these facilities are safe, stimulating educational environments.
Conservation Partner
Singita Lowveld Trust
Our biodiversity projects focus on maintaining healthy, well-functioning ecosystems and habitats in the reserves in which Singita operates. These ecosystems are vital for the protection of a diverse range of wildlife, including species of conservation concern, such as rhinos, leopards, lions, wild dogs and vultures.
As we strive for the restoration and regeneration of our rich wilderness landscape, we can’t do this without the support and in collaboration of our communities. Together we're committed to ensuring that people living alongside wilderness areas not only benefit from tourism and conservation jobs but also experience lasting socio-economic growth.
Download the SLT brochure to find out more about their programmes.
