At Peace Parks Foundation, we are always in awe of our dedicated donor community and the incredible ways they find to support our work. “Social innovation is powering good” drives Hitachi Vantara’s social innovation initiatives, which endeavour to raise the quality of people’s lives and build a sustainable society. It is this motto that has, for the past seven years, led Hitachi Vantara’s support of Peace Parks Foundation’s transfrontier conservation efforts, especially the important projects implemented in the Simalaha Community Conservancy, which is in the Zambian component of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area.
This year, Hitachi Vantara staff members donated more than € 2 300 out of their own pockets towards the development of vegetable gardens at 13 primary schools in Simalaha. This will not only assist in providing the children with a nutritious meal every day, but it is also anticipated to have a positive effect on the children’s health, attention spans, energy levels and ultimately their academic results.
Hitachi’s support in the past also had a significant impact on the education of the children of Simalaha with the organisation funding the construction of two new computer literacy classrooms – one each for Kasaya and Sankalonga schools in 2019. This project also included 20 laptops to kick-start the integration of a computer-based learning process in the schools, the furnishing of classrooms with desks, chairs and blackboards and the building of suitable teacher accommodation.
Ms Gertrude Mabuvu, Acting Deputy Head Teacher at Kasaya School says: “Through Hitachi’s support we are able to offer Information Technology classes for our pupils and continue working towards attaining high standards. The computers will help teachers and pupils, as well as the community at large through adult learning. The teaching of Information Technology has changed the behaviour of pupils who are now attending full school days. Before the computers were delivered, some pupils used to dodge classes and absenteeism was high.”
In an effort to promote the sustainable use of natural resources and ensure food security in Simalaha in 2014, Hitachi provided much need tablets to farmers, so that they could watch a series of training videos on conservation agriculture. Through this initiative, 900 farmers were trained which greatly improved the livelihoods of the Simalaha community.
A heartfelt thank you to Hitachi and the organisation’s wonderful staff members for their continuing support of the Simalaha Community Conservancy.
Peace Parks Foundation, through the support of various donors, has been working alongside the people of Simalaha since the project’s inception in 2012. The Simalaha Community Conservancy was developed by the Sesheke and Sekhute Chiefdoms, who took ownership of their own destiny by following a community-led approach to improving basic human rights – such as access to food, health, livelihood opportunities and education – by responsibly managing and protecting their natural resources and wildlife.
