N/a’an ku sê Foundation celebrates its 2011 achievements

Jan. 12, 2012 - PRLog -- 12 January 2012 –N/a’an ku sê Foundation, a not-for profit organisation committed to the conservation of the wildlife and the people of Namibia, celebrated its most successful year so far in terms of achieving its goals.

“Our vision is an Africa where humans and wildlife can live and thrive together”, says Rudie Van Vuuren, founder and managing director of N/a’an ku sê Foundation together with his wife, Marlice Van Vuuren. “Our mission is to conserve the land, cultures and wildlife of Namibia and rescue species threatened by an ever shrinking habitat and with your help we are making our dream a reality. In 2011 your support helped us achieve real change in the lives of the people and wildlife of Namibia”.

During 2011, N/a’an ku sê Foundation rescued, rehabilitated and re-released 5 cheetahs, 2 leopards, 1 brown hyena, 2 caracals and 1 serval back into the wild where they belong. In June, N/a’an ku sê realized its biggest translocation project ever and one of the biggest in Namibia, relocating and releasing 8 cats (7 cheetahs and 1 leopard) at once. In October, N/a’an ku sê also released its 40th collared carnivore which is now being tracked in order to provide on-going research evidence to ensure the future of the conservation model.

In N/a’an ku sê’s wildlife sanctuary, the organization provided a safe home to lions, wild dogs, cheetahs, leopards, baboons and caracals… as well as lots of farmyard animals. Activities included health care for a number of animals such as a wild leopard and the baboon Rafiki, as well as the rescue of 12 cheetahs and 1 baboon who otherwise may not have survived. The 13 Wild Dog pups that N/a’an ku sê rescued in June 2010 also grew up strong and healthy and on-going research is being performed by N/a’an ku sê ’s qualified researchers in conjunction with international experts in order to ensure a brighter future for this highly endangered species.
N/a’an ku sê’s Clever Cubs School gave free pre-school education to 30 San Bushman toddlers and supported 13 children in their studies at mainstream schools. Three kids graduated from pre-primary school. Without the education they receive at Clever Cubs, these children would stand little chance of gaining entry into a mainstream school and consequently receive no further education or qualifications in order for them to gain employment when they are older. N/a’an ku sê is committed to improving the lives of the San community that we work with through education, healthcare and better living conditions.
N/a’an ku sê’s Lifeline Clinic in Epukiro provided free primary healthcare to over 3,500 San Bushman. 40% of our patients were children and babies. The San live in extreme poverty and many suffer from malnutrition, disease, discrimination and abuse. N/a’an ku sê is committed to improving the lives of the San community through education, healthcare and better living conditions. Providing free and accessible primary healthcare to this community really is a lifeline to many.

But at N/a’an ku sê, we could have not done this alone. In 2011, over 400 volunteers gave thousands of days of their time to support our projects. They were aged from 18 to 70 and came to Namibia from all over the world including Europe, Australia, South America and Asia to name just a few. With no experience or qualifications necessary, our projects offer people the opportunity to make a lasting and tangible difference to the lives of the vulnerable San community and Namibia’s wildlife.  

The N/a’an ku sê Lodge also saw visitors and guests arriving from all over the world. N/a’an ku sê Lodge is the only charity lodge in Namibia, meaning that all funds from our lodge are invested back into our projects, enabling the N/ a’an ku sê Foundation to grow and become even more successful in achieving our vision of an Africa where humans and wildlife can live and thrive together, and conserving the land, cultures and wildlife of Namibia.

N/a’an ku sê would like to thank all of its supporters: To Jan  and Tineke Verburg and Burgland Charitas, The Jolie-Pitt Foundation, Claudio Frateschi and Family, Jaguar Land Rover SA, SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, Pollyanna Pickering Foundation, National Geographic Society, Sirtrack, Bonpoint, Chester Zoo, Latymer Preparatory School, Dan Mortimer. To every Animal Adoptive Parent and Child Sponsor. To everyone who has visited N/a’an ku sê and supported our work. We would not be here without you.
We are a small organization that strives to produce quality in the lives of the animals and people we work with.
Thank you from all the people, animals and staff at N/a’an ku se.


Notes to Editor:
About N/a’an ku sê:
Marlice van Vuuren, one of Namibia’s most well-known conservationists, and her husband Dr. Rudie van Vuuren started N/a’an ku sê Foundation in 2006 with two aims – to protect and conserve Namibia’s vulnerable wildlife and to improve the lives of the marginalised San Bushman community. Our vision is an Africa where humans and wildlife can live and thrive together. Our mission is to conserve the land, cultures and wildlife of Namibia and rescue species threatened by an ever-shrinking habitat.
We now run several projects including:
1.   A Wildlife Sanctuary for orphaned and injured animals
2.   Carnivore Conservation Research Project to protect and conserve wild cheetah, leopard and brown hyena in Namibia.
3.   Clever Cubs School and education for San children
4.   Lifeline Clinic and medical outreach for the San community
5.   Namibia’s only charity lodge
The Foundation is entirely run by voluntary donations and does not receive any government funding.
N/a’an ku sê was recently featured on NBC’s Today show in North America: http://allday.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/07/867880...
For further information on N/a'an ku sê Foundation please visit www.naankuse.com or email info@naankuse.com.  
For bookings and reservations, email bookings@naankuse.com.
For supporting N/a'an ku sê Foundation, email donations@naankuse.com.

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Naankuse Foundation is a UK registered charity organisation based in Namibia and has two aims: to protect and conserve Namibia’s vulnerable wildlife and to improve the lives of the marginalised San Bushman community.