Newsletter - March 2026

March has been a productive month for the Foundation. We are close to confirming new voluntourism destinations focused on wildlife conservation and community development.

We will finalise this shortly and share more with you.

For now, attention turns to what is ahead. A few places remain for our July 2026 trip to Zimbabwe, centred on community rhino conservation initiatives, combined with time spent exploring one of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife regions.

On the ground in Zimbabwe: rhinos, guardians, and preparation for July

In March, we were on the ground preparing for this trip. We met the communities, spent time with the project teams, and had the opportunity to encounter the resident rhinos being reintroduced, alongside the community scouts who protect them.

Rhinos and their guardians

What stands out is the intricate relationship between the rhinos and their guardians. It is something subtle, not immediately visible, yet clearly present. A quiet understanding built over time. The way the scouts read behaviour, anticipate movement, and remain constantly attentive creates a form of connection that goes beyond simple protection. It is not something that can be fully explained, but it can be felt when you are there.

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Wildlife diversity in Hwange National Park

The wildlife is equally impressive. Hwange National Park offers a wide diversity of species, and even during the green season, sightings were abundant. This period brings a different atmosphere, with open landscapes, dramatic skies, and a sense of space that allows you to observe wildlife in a different way. Through the images and videos we will be sharing, you will get a glimpse of that diversity.

Now imagine the dry season. Water becomes scarce, animals concentrate around waterholes, and elephant movements from Botswana through the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier area intensify. The density of wildlife increases significantly, offering a completely different experience, but also highlighting the challenges linked to human–wildlife coexistence in the region.

Mlevu Primary School: supporting education at the edge of the wild

Being on the ground also brought tangible progress. We visited Mlevu Primary School, supported through Imvelo Trust, where Indigo Earth Foundation contributed last year to improving teachers’ living conditions.

Mlevu is an under-resourced rural school located close to the boundary of Hwange National Park. Around three hundred and fifty students, from Early Childhood Development level to Grade 7, attend the school. Many walk between five and ten kilometres each day, along routes where encounters with wildlife such as lions, elephants, and hyenas are part of daily life. These children come from families of subsistence farmers who regularly face the consequences of human–wildlife conflict, from crop destruction to livestock loss.

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Imvelo Trust has already supported the school through infrastructure development, including classroom blocks, sanitation facilities, fencing, and access to school meals and materials.

Our contribution has focused specifically on improving teachers’ living conditions, through roof repairs, as well as the installation of solar panels and connectivity via Starlink. The roof repairs have already been completed, while the energy and connectivity systems are now in progress.

These are not marginal improvements. In remote areas such as this, the ability to attract and retain teachers depends directly on living conditions. Reliable energy, connectivity, and safe housing make a measurable difference to the stability of the school and, ultimately, to the quality of education provided.

When we visited, Maureen, one of the teachers, shared the equipment that had been delivered. Installation is now underway.

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When we return in July, these systems should be fully operational. You will be able to see not only the wildlife and conservation efforts, but also how these projects translate into real, day-to-day impact within the community. If you want to understand how these different dimensions connect, conservation, education, and local livelihoods, you are welcome to join us. The remaining places will be filled soon.

Explore the trips.

​July 2026​

​October 2027​

World Water Day: water access and inequality

March was also a moment to reflect on water and its increasing scarcity. World Water Day, held on 22 March, focused this year on the theme “Where water flows, equality grows”, highlighting the link between access to safe water and gender equality.

The global water crisis does not affect everyone in the same way. Where safe water and sanitation are not available close to home, inequalities deepen. Women and girls carry most of the burden. They collect water, manage its use within households, and care for those affected by unsafe conditions. This comes at the cost of time, health, safety, and access to education or economic opportunities.

In many cases, they are also excluded from decision-making processes related to water management, funding, and infrastructure. This imbalance makes the water crisis not only an environmental issue, but also a social and economic one.

The scale is significant. Hundreds of millions of women rely on unimproved or distant water sources, and in many regions, vast amounts of time are spent each day simply collecting water. This has direct consequences on education, employment, and long-term development.

These challenges are directly connected to two of the Sustainable Development Goals set for 2030: access to safe water and sanitation, and gender equality. The SDGs provide a shared framework adopted by all United Nations Member States, recognising that progress across these areas must happen together, not in isolation.

The initiatives we support contribute in practical ways to these objectives.

In Uganda, Gorilla Junction improves access to clean water for the Nkuringo community while developing a community centre focused on skills training and employment. (website)

In Zimbabwe, Imvelo Trust contributes through the drilling and maintenance of boreholes, as well as water systems that support both communities and wildlife, particularly in drought conditions. (website)

In Kenya, the Maa Trust develops rainwater harvesting systems that provide reliable access to clean water, reducing the need for long and often risky journeys. (website)

Different geographies, different approaches, but a shared objective: improving access to essential resources and strengthening resilience within communities.

International Women’s Day and women-focused programmes

March also included International Women’s Day, a reminder that progress in conservation and development is closely linked to the role of women.

Several of the initiatives we support place women at the centre of their work. The Maa Trust offers a clear example of this approach.

Across the Maasai Mara, their programmes focus on leadership development, education, healthcare access, and entrepreneurship. Women are supported to take part in community decision-making, engage with issues such as land rights and climate challenges, and build professional networks within conservation landscapes.

Healthcare access has also been strengthened through the establishment of the Talek Community Health Centre maternity facility, providing essential services for women across the region.

For younger generations, education remains a key focus. Career initiatives and partnerships create pathways into higher education and employment, including opportunities in conservation and entrepreneurship.

Economic independence is another critical dimension. Through beadwork initiatives and entrepreneurship programmes, women develop sustainable sources of income that contribute to both household stability and community resilience.

These actions contribute to long-term change, where women are not only supported, but actively shaping the future of their communities.

We also shared more detailed insights into two initiatives focused on children.

Meet Peninsula School Feeding Association (South Africa)

For nearly seven decades, the Peninsula School Feeding Association has worked to ensure that hunger does not stand in the way of education in South Africa. The organisation provides daily nutritious meals to more than thirty-three thousand learners across a wide network of schools and centres, particularly where government programmes do not fully reach.

Its model is both practical and community-based, supplying ingredients, equipment, and structured menus while enabling local food preparers to cook meals on site. This approach supports nutrition, dignity, and local involvement. Beyond feeding, the programme contributes to improved concentration, academic performance, and overall well-being, while also supporting families facing food insecurity.

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Meet L'Île aux Enfants (Madagascar)

In Madagascar, L’Île aux Enfants offers a broader, integrated approach. What began with a single classroom in 2012 has grown into a structured initiative supporting more than three hundred and fifty students, from kindergarten to high school.

Education is combined with nutrition, vocational training, health support, and community development. Initiatives such as agriculture, water systems, and renewable energy are integrated into daily life, creating both learning opportunities and greater self-sufficiency.

Its impact extends beyond the school itself, supporting the wider neighbourhood through feeding programmes, infrastructure improvements, and awareness initiatives. The objective is not only to provide education, but to create the conditions for long-term stability and opportunity.

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If you want to explore these projects further, understand their context in more depth, and see how they operate on the ground, we encourage you to read the full articles.

For those considering joining us in Zimbabwe, this is an opportunity to experience these realities directly, from conservation work to community initiatives, in a way that cannot be captured through images alone.

The remaining places are limited.

​July 2026​

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Indigo Earth Foundation