Conservation Achievements
Together, Rudie and his wife Marlice van Vuuren strive for the preservation of both animal species and the culture of the country's original inhabitants (The San community).
In 2003, Marlice and Rudie, along with their pharmacist friend, Christ Heunis and Jan Verburg opened the N/a’an ku sê (Naankuse) Lifeline Clinic at Epukiro, Namibia where the San Bushman community can be treated free of charge. The Lifeline Clinic is entirely funded by voluntary donations and provides primary healthcare to over 3,500 patients a year.
In 2004, Marlice and Rudie bought the farm Ovuuyo, 42 km outside of Windhoek to establish their own animal reserve and gave it the name N/a’an ku sê (Naankuse) which means God will protect us. N/a’an ku sê (Naankuse) Charity Lodge & Wildlife Sanctuary opened in 2007. The Sanctuary accommodates mostly orphaned and injured animals that cannot be released safely back into the wild. They have also started the Carnivore Research Project to help conserve big cats and the Clever Cubs School, funded by the Clabile Trust, for the San Bushman children on the farm. One of N/a’an ku sê’s most important goals is to improve the lives of the marginalised Bushman community which they do through providing education, employment, accommodation and improved living conditions.
The lodge is an article 21 organisation which donates any profits back into the conservation projects and work with the San Bushman community. 2
Read more about this topic: Rudie Van Vuuren
Famous quotes containing the words conservation and/or achievements:
“A country grows in history not only because of the heroism of its troops on the field of battle, it grows also when it turns to justice and to right for the conservation of its interests.”
—Aristide Briand (1862–1932)
“Fathers are still considered the most important “doers” in our culture, and in most families they are that. Girls see them as the family authorities on careers, and so fathers’ encouragement and counsel is important to them. When fathers don’t take their daughters’ achievements and plans seriously, girls sometimes have trouble taking themselves seriously.”
—Stella Chess (20th century)