According to the CEO of Koru Camp, Corne Havenga, in Gr 11 Dineo was allowed to spend three nights studying the environment with the Timbavati Foundation. Part of this opportunity included completing a project of her choice, for which she selected waste management and recycling. “Dineo did not only involve the entire school in her project but she even recruited other community schools to recycle as well!

“The foundation awarded Dineo a scholarship to study nature conservation at the South African Wildlife College and her journey has been on an upwards trajectory ever since,” adds Havenga. However, after working in various positions from an environmental educator to logistics and project manager, and with a burning desire to make a difference and impact people in her community, she eventually decided to take a break and figure out the next step in her career, which is when she discovered Koru Camp.

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“As the only camp in the Greater Kruger exclusively available for community use, our mission is to engage and inspire local communities through transformative experiences in nature,” says Havenga. Dineo says she finally feels fulfilled in her work. “There is no longer a hole in my heart. I wake up every morning with a smile knowing I am doing what I love and that it is benefitting others. “We have such an incredible team who are not driven by monetary values but have a genuine love to help others.

By connecting with the community and building relationships, I am doing a service rather than a job, so it never gets boring or tiring. “There are many global challenges we are facing, and we need to start at grass roots awareness, to ensure we can make a difference, maybe not today or tomorrow, but in the future. “I am very grateful that I can be a part of this and that I have found a home here at Koru Camp,” she concludes.