Entries Tagged 'C&IT CSR Challenge in South Africa' ↓

The Challenge team are home.

Read Jac’s Daily Africa Diary - her personal record of this amazingly rewarding, educational and exciting Challenge and CSR incentive programme:

Building for two families at the Mziki Agri Village, KwaZulu-Natal and visit to a local school.
Kings Grant retreat, Phinda Private Game Reserve, Safari, Zulu Warriors, whale shark tagging, snakes and more…

Jacqui Loftus, Paragon’s MD packed steel toed boots and hard hat before jetting off to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa from 3 – 9 September to take part in a three-day build at the Mziki Agri Village project, in the Ixopo area of South Africa. 

Talk about intrepid!  What will be next - skydiving, the 3 peaks.  Needless to say we’re all very proud of her and looked forward to reading her daily diary on our blog.

But what was it all about?  Well, was an amazing challenge that brought together environmental education and emotional hands on experience when the chosen team worked together with local families to help build two houses. Plus a fabulous opportunity to enjoy some of what South Africa has to offer the incentive traveller.

Conference & Incentive Travel Magazine threw out their first ever CSR challenge to the events industry to show their commitment to CSR by outlining how their policy had developed over the past 12 months.

Paragon was one of 10 agencies chosen to take part.   

“The purpose of the event is two-fold,” says C&IT editor Yasmin Razak. “We want to highlight the agencies that have made the strongest commitment to CSR and put it at the heart of their agenda during the two years of our campaign. Additionally, we want to provide a clear template of an incentive that can be pitched to clients who need their event solutions to match their CSR policy.”

The event is supported by events industry association Eventia and arranged by C&IT in association with South African Tourism, Charity Challenge and the charity Habitat for Humanity.

Meet Lalisile Dlamini one of the two beneficiaries for the houses the Challenge team are helping to build.

Lalisile is 38 years old and has three children, one son and two daughters (17, 11 and 7 years). All the children attend local schools.

Lalisile is married to Sutha Njwara and they currently live in a Kraal on the Highflats farm where the Mziki Agri village Project is based. The family currently live in a mud and wattle structure and their monthly income is very low. Conditions within the home are very difficult for the family, especially the children. Bad weather causes problems as the roof leaks and the children become sick very easily.

Lalisile was very excited when volunteers came previously to help families build their homes and she has been looking forward to meeting the volunteers and building with them.

Interview by: Ben TshiteyaVoluneer Co-ordinator Habitat for Humanity SA (KZN Region)

NOW READ ABOUT THOLAKELE….

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Phinda Private Game Reserve is situated in the lush Maputaland region in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Bordering the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park – a World Heritage Site – Phinda comprises 54 500 acres of prime conservation land. 

Seven distinct habitats shelter an abundance of wildlife including Africa’s Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, black and white rhino, buffalo) and over 380 bird species, while the marine diversity off the nearby coast of Sodwana rivals the Great Barrier Reef.

Phinda is owned by Conservation Corporation Africa (CC Africa), Africa’s leading ecotourism organisation who are committed to providing world-class holiday experiences alongside investment in sustainable conservation development and community empowerment. CC Africa owns 36 exceptional camps and lodges at 17 destinations including Phinda.

“Phinda was born out of a belief that the beauty of Maputaland was worth saving from the spiral of destruction into which it has been drawn. Its first target was to repair habitat damaged by almost a century of cattle farming, to return the wildlife which had once roamed the Maputaland plain, and to build luxury, world-class destinations for visitors without whom there would not be a viable plan. The second task was to reconnect the rural communities with the land by giving people the opportunity to participate at every level in sustainable conservation development by providing employment, training and the infrastructure for small business development. ”
(annoted piece from CapeCairo)

Phina Rock Lodge is set into a cliff-face overlooking the beautiful Leopard Rock.

There are 6 six stone and adobe suites with en suite bathrooms, private sitting areas, decks and plunge pools with breathtaking views of the valley below.

• Six romantic, air-conditioned suites
• Private plunge pools and game-viewing decks
• En suite bathroom
• Three suites feature outdoor showers
• Adventurous bush banqueting
• Exceptional warm and friendly service

Private plunge pool

Capture fiery sunsets from the game viewing deck suspended over South Africa’s bushveld, or relax in your private sitting room while observing an abundance of birdlife in the trees surrounding this safari lodge and animals in the valley below.

Delicious Pan-African cuisine is served in the dining area under hand-wrought chandeliers, on the Lodge’s exclusive deck or enjoyed in the privacy of your suite. Phinda is renowned for excellent cuisine served in adventurous bush clearings under the African night sky.

As for activities, Phinda provides unique Specialist Safaris that are tailored to specific fields of conseration, animal species or general safari interest. For example their 7 Wonders in 7 days.

There’s also:
Twice-daily game-drives in open 4×4 safari vehicles with experienced rangers and Zulu trackers.

Interpretive Bush Walks, where you can learn more about the traditional uses and the legends surrounding indigenous trees and shrubs, how to identify tracks and see rare birds on walks led by armed rangers and trackers.

Mzinene River Canoeing – paddling along the river flanked with lush forest you can see some of the incredible birdlife.

Mzinene Riverboat Cruise – a leisurely cruise at sunrise or sunset where you can see some of the 200 or more waterbirds, as well as crocodiles and hippos.

White Rhino Tracking - with a professional armed ranger and tracker you can set off in a 4×4 safari vehicle, searching for fresh signs of white rhino activity and then experience the thrill of tracking white rhino on foot.

Plus: deep see fishing, scuba safaris, night turtle drives, beach horseriding…

PHINDA ROCK LODGE RATES for Jan – Dec 2007
Per person per night sharing - £238 - £300
Includes: all meals, drinks, 2 game drives daily or Canoe, or Riverboard Cruise, emergency medical evacuation insurance and taxes