A powerful collaboration between SANParks and the Good Work Foundation aims to equip young people living near game parks with the digital and environmental skills they need to thrive.
South Africa (16 November 2025) – A new partnership between South African National Parks (SANParks) and education non-profit Good Work Foundation (GWF) is set to transform opportunities for young people living near the country’s national parks. Conservation awareness and job creation right to the heart of rural South Africa will take a step by bringing digital learning.
The two organisations look to expand GWF’s digital education and skills training model to more communities bordering South Africa’s iconic parks, starting with the Greater Kruger National Park.
The pilot phase will be based at GWF’s Hazyview Digital Learning Campus, which will act as a hub connecting local youth to conservation-related careers, digital literacy, and internships within SANParks. Additional campuses are on the cards for surrounding areas to meet growing demand.
Plans are also in motion to close the digital divide in other provinces, with new GWF campuses to be established near Addo Elephant National Park (Eastern Cape), Golden Gate Highlands National Park (Free State) and Augrabies Falls and Namaqua National Parks (Northern Cape).
GWF CEO Kate Groch says the partnership is about unlocking new futures for rural youth while supporting SANParks’ long-term goal of creating “mega living landscapes” that balance conservation with community development.
“Our mission has always been to connect young South Africans with the skills they need to access opportunities in their own rural spaces. Working with SANParks allows us to expand that mission, bringing education and conservation together in a way that changes lives.”
GWF already reaches over 13,500 learners and young jobseekers across its campuses. The expansion will have a “multiplier effect,” giving tens of thousands more access to education, training and employment linked to the conservation economy.
Kate further added that many children living close to game parks have never seen a lion or an elephant in the wild. Thus is a gap this initiative aims to bridge by deepening their connection to South Africa’s natural heritage. Students will also gain opportunities for internships and work placements within SANParks.
For Kate the partnership represents a full-circle moment.
“If the work we do connects young people to real career paths while protecting our wild spaces, that’s a win for everyone. The bigger picture is about growing young people who belong to those spaces, work in those spaces, and develop them thoughtfully.”
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