African Parks in CSR drive in Nkhotakota
African Parks Limited (AP) has initiated various corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities that are benefitting communities around Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve.
Briefing members of Ntchisi District Council, AP community extension manager, Obed Mkandawire said the company is implementing a scholarship programme to fight illiteracy among the communities bordering the reserve.
constructed by AP at Mpondagaga CDSS
“In 2017 alone, African Parks provided a bursary to 126 orphaned and vulnerable students. The bursary included school fees, living expenses, learning materials and transport to and from school,” he said.
Mkandawire also said a classroom block has been constructed at Mpondagaga Community Day Secondary School in the area.
According to the manager, AP last year supported 700 students from 22 schools to pay education visits to the 180 000 hectare wildlife reserve.
“The communities have also been provided with other social amenities such as boreholes and bridges besides allowing them to harvest resources such as bamboo, grass and reeds following a set of procedures,” said Mkandawire.
Traditional Authority Nthondo said the interventions the company has introduced in the areas such as mushroom production and bee keeping will transform the livelihoods of the communities.
AP entered an agreement with government through the Department of National Parks and Wildlife in July 2015 to manage the reserve for 20 years on a Public Private Partnership arrangement. n
