Setting up a Khwe Cultural Village

Obtaining unique knowledge

The project is based on the “Wilderness Tracker” project initiated and supported by Gebeco in 2013. The main goal of this project was to preserve the unique knowledge of the local Khwe community, pass it on to younger generations and develop new sources of income by integrating tourism. As of today, training programs for the transfer of knowledge from the elders to the next generation were developed and implemented. In addition, the first programs for imparting traditional knowledge to travelers were created and tested with Gebeco travel groups.

Now it is time for the Khwe to stand on their own feet. The aim of the current partnership is therefore that the Khwe are be able to manage their project independently and generate a stable income for their community in the long term. In order to do so, the Khwe are being supported in the construction of a so-called “Cultural Village”. It is intended to be a permanent point of contact as a central training center and for receiving guests.

The following activities have been implemented

• Two representatives of the Khwe community were trained as elephant guards by the local partner EHRA in a train-the-trainer workshop to enable the continuous implementation of measures and the transfer of knowledge in the community.
• Training for the entire Khwe community on how to peacefully ward off elephant attacks.
• Development of a community-based tourism offer, the Cultural Village.
• Support in growing vegetables.
• Construction of a well with the support of the TUI Care Foundation.
• Construction of a chicken coop and breeding of chickens.
• Design of information signs and an orientation map for visitors.