As Mother Teresa so eloquently put it, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” And at HERD, we firmly believe that every action has an impact, so we strive for that to be a lasting, positive impact.

Ultimately, we want to educate the world about the remarkable elephant species and the threats it faces. However, raising awareness about the essential conservation efforts undertaken by various organisations worldwide is a daily effort that begins with our local community.

Along with education, employment is one of the most powerful forces. By offering employment to our local community, we not only help those individuals fulfil a bigger purpose but give them the ability to support their families.

But it does not stop by simply filling a role. At HERD, we believe in upskilling through offering various opportunities for training and growth. We seek to empower and educate local communities on our conservation objectives. This, in turn, benefits sustainable economic and social development locally.

With our team of community members as elephant carers, we work to achieve long-lasting success, as being a carer is a career that spans decades.

The Mpisi Primary School is located in our direct community, close to where our carers live. HERD’s relationship with the school aids in facilitating the role of our carers as leaders in their immediate society.

For example, Khensani Ngobeni, our first female elephant carer, represents HERD by conducting environmental education programmes at Mpisi and building lasting relationships with the teachers, students and parents.

HERD believes in creating a community of environmental stewards who protect their natural surroundings by building relationships that empower the community. Our efforts improve lives and the future of South Africa’s natural capital and wildlife.

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