Wendy Blakeley was inspired after her first journey to Africa. On that trip through five countries in East Africa she visited national parks and conservancies and she saw not one African child. While people from around the globe where visiting these treasured places. She realized there was a large gap that needed to be filled if all the natural resources of Africa were not to be destroyed through neglect or abuse and that gap needed to be filled by Africans.
Africa Matters was chartered as a non-profit in 2002 as a direct result of that trip. It was obvious that there was an immediate need to expose children to their national natural treasures and inspire them to grow up motivated to preserve their heritage of unique animals and habitats. Because children are the key to building this ethic, in 2005 we began offering financial assistance to students in Zimbabwe who could not afford school fees. We expanded that to include funds for hot school lunches during years of economic downturn and drought making food sustainability almost impossible. Since then we have expanded direct support for student education, added community trainings and workshops, joined with environmental education programs anti-poaching professionals and artisans (who recycle collected snare wire to protect the species that would otherwise have met their end).
Africa Matters' mission espouses the belief that not only science, but also art and education have a key role to play in conservation. Therefore, the projects, organizations and individuals and we support reflect these ideals. Along the way we have expanded our donor base to support these critical efforts. Please won't you join us and be a part of this story.
Africa Matters was chartered as a non-profit in 2002 as a direct result of that trip. It was obvious that there was an immediate need to expose children to their national natural treasures and inspire them to grow up motivated to preserve their heritage of unique animals and habitats. Because children are the key to building this ethic, in 2005 we began offering financial assistance to students in Zimbabwe who could not afford school fees. We expanded that to include funds for hot school lunches during years of economic downturn and drought making food sustainability almost impossible. Since then we have expanded direct support for student education, added community trainings and workshops, joined with environmental education programs anti-poaching professionals and artisans (who recycle collected snare wire to protect the species that would otherwise have met their end).
Africa Matters' mission espouses the belief that not only science, but also art and education have a key role to play in conservation. Therefore, the projects, organizations and individuals and we support reflect these ideals. Along the way we have expanded our donor base to support these critical efforts. Please won't you join us and be a part of this story.
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