The Bergplaas van Lippe-Biesterfeld Foundation is pleased to announce that it has entered into a multi-year partnership with the Hoffmann Foundation and the Edmond de Rothschild Foundations.
The support from both Foundations will enable the continued expansion of the wildlife and environment programmes taking place at Bergplaas Nature Reserve in South Africa. These include the Spirit of the Wild courses and the Nature Conservation Student Experiential Training for Nelson Mandela University.
Bergplaas Nature Reserve was founded in 1998 by HRH Princess Irene van Lippe-Biesterfeld of the Netherlands. Its training activities offer a wildlife, guiding and leadership experience that awakens each participant's pathways of knowledge, belonging and purpose. It is a profound personal and leadership skills development journey that reconnects people from all backgrounds with the natural environment. In 2012 the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) endorsed Spirit of the Wild as a Specialist Training Provider and Certificate Programme. Bergplaas currently receives students from Nelson Mandela University, the Tracker Academy, and the SA College for Tourism, South African National Parks and Cape Nature amongst others.
Princess Irene stated "The financial support of the Hoffmann Foundation and the Edmond de Rothschild Foundations will allow even more young individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to come to Bergplaas and find their true internal leadership in harmony with nature. Bergplaas is a place where people can reconnect to their partnership with nature. Today more than ever we need to understand that indeed we are part of nature and need to find ways to think and act within the framework of Earth's great eco system".
Guillaume Taylor, chair of the Bergplaas Foundation added "The support of renowned organisations such as the Hoffmann Foundation and the Edmond de Rothschild Foundations is a strong recognition of the impactful work of Bergplaas and the growing awareness of the role of the natural environment in education and personal development".
