Cadet Ranger Programme
The Malilangwe Trust’s Cadet Ranger Programme in Zimbabwe is aimed at young men aged 16-18, and empowers them to enter the job market and become valuable members of their community.
Rural areas in Zimbabwe offer scant opportunities for training, which means young people often face very uncertain futures once they leave school. This real need prompted the development of the Cadet Ranger Programme, which was launched in December 2018.
The Programme not only instils a much-needed sense of hope in the community but also unlocks the vast potential of the enthusiastic young men who complete it. The skills they learn significantly increase their future employment prospects, and also benefit the community, as skills such as first aid are rare commodities in an area where medical help is often hours away.
With enough financial support, we hope to expand the Programme, bringing hope to more young people.
Cadet Ranger Programme
CommunityConservation Partner
Malilangwe Trust
As custodians of the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve in Zimbabwe, the Malilangwe Trust manages the conservation of this pristine wilderness – which comprises 38 different habitats and ecological zones in 115,000 acres of protected land.
After successfully introducing 28 black and 15 white rhinos to the reserve in 1998, it is now home to a globally significant population of both and the programme has been so successful that it is a source for restocking rhinos in other reserves on the continent.
The Trust has developed a blueprint for creating harmony between conservation initiatives and community development in villages that neighbour wildlife areas and ensured a sanctuary for a wide range of wildlife, including breeding herds of rare antelope species such as sable and roan.
An onsite Environmental Education Centre for school teachers and children allows them to immerse themselves in Outdoor Education and fieldwork, while the Trust’s nutrition programme provides 20,000 children with a fortifying meal before school every day in order to address increasing food insecurity in the region.
