Social Engagement Mount Etjo Private School and Rhino Trust
The Mount Etjo Trust is of great importance for me and a way of givíng back to the community!
Annette Oelofse and her team are passionate about their work and have already saved the lives of several black and white rhino calves. During my time on Mount Etjo I was allowed to bottle feed Nossie and Floppy. On my last visit, the little rhino Cato was a cheerful companion at sunrise. I would like to support the protection of all rhinos and education of the public with my daily work. This also begins at the own Mount Etjo private shool, which currently has around 30 children between the ages of 6 and 13.
WHO WE ARE
We are a close-knit family and by joining forces we have achieved great things for nature conservation in Namibia over the past 40 years. Our loyal employees, their families and children have played an important role in this. In return, it is our job to invest in these families who have helped keep our private game reserve alive over the past few decades. Our team has provided guests from all over the world with unforgettable encounters with nature at Mount Etjo Safari Lodge, tending, caring for, feeding and protecting our game. These families have devoted their time, energy and hearts to this dream of a lifetime and earn more than a salary for this service. With their help, a lot can be achieved for our small community in the form of EDUCATION.
MOUNT ETJO PRIVATE SCHOOL
Mount Etjo Private School was opened in 1993 by His Excellency Dr President Sam Nujoma. Since then, many children have graduated from school there and have continued to successfully pursue an education, including in medicine, accounting and engineering
The lodge is about 100km from the nearest large town of Otjiwarongo. If the children were to attend one of the schools there, the children would have little time to spend at home and the parents would have to bear significant costs for accommodation, school and transport themselves. Since 1993 all costs of the school, teachers' salaries, learning materials and a hot meal a day have been financed by the Oelofse family. The construction of the school not only saved the parents all expenses, but also ensured a better family structure within the community. The children from diverse, multilingual and culturally very different households can be offered a better education on Mount Etjo through much more personal care and the basis for further education can be laid. The school is currently attended by about 35 children who are divided into classes 1-3 and 2-6, led by two teachers. Of course, this is only the beginning of a child's life!
Donations to the school children - from toys to clothing and sweets - are greatly appreciated!
RHINO TRUST
The Okonjati Wildlife Sanctuary was established in the early 1970's, by the world renowned conservationist, Jan Oelofse.
Ever since, the Oelofse family ( Jan's widow Annette, his son Alex and Alex's wife - Carola and their children Jan jr. and Keira) have been working tirelesly for conservation, creating a 36 000 hectare sactuary for various rare and endangered species.
"Etjo" means - Place of Refuge, and here the mighty black and white Rhino would find their own place of refuge.
Rhino has always been the top priority for the tireless conservation efforts by the Oelofse Family, and the Sanctuary was rewarded, as one of the very first rhino custodians in Namibia, for government-owned black rhino in 1993.
Annette Oelofse started raising and caring for orphaned animals from a young age, but it wasn't until 1995, when she recieved a 7-day old, mulnutritioned rhino orphan, that she realized her absolute passion - to raise, care, save, protect and conserve this wonderful and vulnerable, iconic specie.