Today marks the end of week 1 of my LiA and the start of week 2! This summer, I am working with 2 organisations to create a documentary showcasing their partnership and the impact of their work within the Greater Bushbuckridge Region of Mpumalanga, South Africa. 

The documentary focusses on the partnership between the Sabi Sand Pfunanani Trust (SSPT) and the Good Work Foundation (GWF). SSPT serves as the community trust of the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve and works in partnership with communities surrounding the reserve to uplift and empower its citizens through its 3 core pillars of Education, Environment, and Enterprise.

GWF is a non-profit organisation focussed on the implementation and development of a Learning and Working Ecosystem within the rural Bushbuckridge area. With youth unemployment in South Africa unofficially recorded as 60% by the Federal Reserve Bank, the need for sustainable education-to-employment life cycles is continuing to grow. Through the running of digital learning centres, education-to-employment programmes such as The Bridging Academy, as well as the Conservation and Hospitality Academy, the organisation aims to provide a strong education foundation to youth within the surrounding area so that they can secure long-term employment, financial security, and ultimately develop and grow the economic and employment landscape of the Bushbuckridge region. 

The documentary aims to explore the impact of the partnership by following the stories of 2 graduates from GWF's Conservation and Hospitality Academies that are now working within the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve. In addition to this, the documentary will interview and engage with members of both organisations as well as explore GWF's Hazyview campus. 

This first week, I conducted my first 2 interviews and am now in the process of editing the footage! This week I will be completing my prep for my visit to Hazyview Campus next week :)