In a remarkable act of generosity, prominent conservationists and philanthropists, Nicky and Strilli Oppenheimer, of E Oppenheimer and Son and De Beers, have donated the 4500-hectare Ezemvelo Nature Reserve near Bronkhorstspruit, to Maharishi Institute. The aim is to promote environmental and conservation-related education to youth in South Africa, to develop a rural eco-campus, as well as promote eco-tourism, and conservation of the beautiful natural heritage of Ezemvelo (the name means ‘back to Nature’).
The official handover of Ezemvelo is being celebrated on Thursday 14th August at Maharishi Institute in Johannesburg, hosted by Mr and Mrs Oppenheimer together with the directors of the Maharishi Institute.
Ezemvelo is a Nature Reserve one hour north east of O.R. Tambo Airport, 20 km outside Bronkhorstspruit. Ezemvelo Nature Reserve is situated on the Bankenveld, which is the transition ecotone between the grassland and savanna biomes. Ecologically this is valuable as elements of both biomes occur within the reserve, creating a rich biological diversity.
Young South Africans Experiencing our South African Natural Heritage
Guests will include members of the conservation fraternity, and students of the Institute comprising mainly school-leavers from disadvantaged backgrounds who are learning practical business and life skills. More than 100 of these students have already enjoyed structured leadership camps at Ezemvelo. Over five hundred youth in the past few months have had the opportunity to visit Ezemvelo to stay over and enjoy nature and leadership experiences as part of this partnership.
Eco-Tourism Activities at Ezemvelo
Ezemvelo will continue to share its treasures with tourists from South Africa and internationally, with certain species that are uniquely found here in the world. The reserve has over 2 000 animals of 34 different species, and over 250 species of birds. Horse-riding safaris have been added and eco-tourists have the opportunity to get up-close to the natural life of Ezemvelo on horseback on 1-hour, 3-hour, and 2-day safaris.
Sustainability, Fair-trade, and Community Upliftment
It is the intention to create a show-case of sustainability using a maximum of possible alternative energy sources to move Ezemvelo ‘off the grid’, and to implement fair-trade practices, alongside programmes of community upliftment, including access to further education for youth in the community. Nine youth from the local community joined the Maharishi Institute in Johannesburg in February 2008.
Eco-Campus to be created at Ezemvelo
Ezemvelo plans to expand to include an eco-campus to train young people for careers in conservation and guiding, eco-tourism management, organic agriculture, and alternative energy – skills that are in constant demand in South Africa and internationally.
Dr Richard Peycke, the Maharishi Institute’s National Director, comments: ‘Every young person in our country has infinite natural potential. The combination of our educational methods to develop this full potential, with the incredible beauty of Ezemvelo, promises to create great future leaders for South Africa.’
Centre of Excellence in Natural-Law Based Education
Maharishi Institute, a Public-Benefit Organisation established in South Africa for over 30 years, intends to create a centre of excellence in Natural-Law based programmes at Ezemvelo, which will include amongst others:
• Consciousness-Based Education – holistic education that unlocks the full potential of every student and provides profound understanding of Nature and man’s relationship with it.
• A permanent exhibition venue for total knowledge of Natural Law
• A Maharishi health spa offering Ayurvedic spa treatments
• Training in Transcendental Meditation, which removes stress, and develops alertness, and integration in brain functioning
• Organic vegetables will be grown on the property.
The Diamond Route
Duncan MacFadyen, Manager of Research and Conservation: E Oppenheimer & Son, comments: ‘Ezemvelo forms part of the Diamond Route, a massive national project which focuses on linking the conservation properties of the Oppenheimer family and De Beers. These properties conserve vast conservation areas and provide a safe haven for a wide variety of unique, rare and ecologically important plants and wildlife and provide endless photographic opportunities. These properties are open to the public who are encouraged to explore this wealth of tourism opportunities.’ See: www.diamondroute.co.za
The mission of the Diamond Route is to maximise these rich and diverse natural resources of the Oppenheimer and De Beers properties to advance conservation, enhance environmental awareness and contribute to social development. Combined, the habitats of the Diamond Route support over 500 bird species (more than half of Southern African species), amongst which are 69 Red Data, and about 40 southern African endemics.
The Oppenheimers support an extensive range of conservation work and are passionate environmentalists. They are recipients of the top World Wildlife Fund award for their conservation efforts, the Lonmin Award.
Nicky Oppenheimer says: “Diamonds are demonstrating that they can contribute in new ways to development in Africa, beyond those associated with the purely traditional economic benefits. Conservation is as much about people as it is about conserving our heritage for generations to come.”
Strilli Oppenheimer adds: “We are confident that the Maharishi Institute will be as successful in training future conservationists and environmentalists as the founders have been with training business managers. Ezemvelo Nature Reserve will be used as a tool, a rural, outcomes-based university, to allow these young men and women to connect and build their relationship with the environment we all so desperately want to conserve for future generations.”
Press Contacts:
Duncan MacFadyen, E Oppenheimer & Son - 011 274 2184 or 083 379 2139; email: Duncan.MacFadyen@eoson.co.za
Nigel Kahn, Maharishi Institute – 021 685 1647 or 084 280 9063; email: nkahn@globalcountry.net
Appendix – background information
Maharishi Institute was established in 2007 in Johannesburg, by Directors of Maharishi Vedic Institute, an NPO (non-profit organisation) and PBO (public benefit organisation) which was formed in the 1960s and has taught Transcendental Meditation to over 60 000 South Africans since that time.
The new Maharishi Institute is an educational opportunity offering to school-leavers the opportunity to acquire essential business, computer, language, and leadership skills, while developing their creativity and intelligence through Transcendental Meditation. There are currently over 100 students, drawn mainly from historically disadvantaged communities. Enrolment is on-going.
Consciousness-Based education:
• enlivens the full creativity, intelligence, and inner happiness of every student and teacher,
• eliminates stress in the educational process,
• and enlivens total brain functioning.
• focuses on creating a school atmosphere that is harmonious, happy, safe, and conducive to learning.
• the key technologies of this programme are the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programmes
• hundreds of scientific research studies and educational outcomes of more than 200
Consciousness-Based education schools throughout the world document the profound benefits of the CBE programme for students, teachers, and administrators of all cultural and educational backgrounds.
Transcendental Meditation was founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and has been taught for the past 30 years in South Africa under the auspices of Maharishi Vedic Institute, a Public Benefit Organisation. See www.tm-online-org.za
Over 600 studies conducted at over 250 research institutions in over 30 countries testify to the benefits of Transcendental Meditation, and have been published in over 100 peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals.
More than 25 studies have been funded by the US government, via the US National Institutes of Health, on the benefits of Transcendental Meditation for cardiovascular disease. See www.doctorsonTM.org
