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Wild Shots Outreach Newsletter – April 2024

Engaging young people in nature and conservation through photography

It has been a busy first quarter, with Wild Shots Outreach team members in Botswana, Namibia and the United Arab Emirates - as well as exciting achievements for our Bursary Fund students. On top of this, Program Director, Rifumo Mathebula was named WESSA Youth Award, Runner Up – “in recognition of his passion, teaching photography to inspire disadvantaged communities to conserve wildlife. WESSA salutes you for being a true champion of the environment”.

WSO Team take centre stage at Xposure, UAE

Xposure International Photography Conference, UAE

Rifumo, Melody, Karabo and Mike were invited to exhibit WSO images and give a presentation at the prestigious Xposure International Photography Conference in Sharjah. This was a great opportunity to meet some of the world’s top photographers, and an honour be interviewed by Kathy Moran, former picture editor of National Geographic Magazine.

“Photography lights up the fire that is burning inside me…”

Scaling up - Namibia and Botswana

Once again Wild Shots Outreach worked in partnership with Natural Selection and Canon EMEA to deliver workshops with young job seekers in three communities bordering Protected Area in both Botswana (4th year running & led by Mike) and Namibia (2nd year running & led by Rifumo). “It is nature that has brought us together for Wild Shots, and now I realise it is nature that brings the tourists and nature that brings the income” Thabiso, Khwai Private Reserve

Newly qualified guides Bright (L) & Happiness (R), with Rifumo

Bursary Student Success

We are so proud of Light Ngomane and Neville Ngomane (no relation) who both graduated with BA Hons in Motion Picture Medium from AFDA College. Both are now working as freelance videographers and have already landed their first commissions. In addition, two more trainee safari guides Happiness Mashigo and Bright Makhubela gained their FGASA Level 2 nature guiding qualifications last month.

Finally, we’re thrilled that CNN featured the work of Wild Shots Outreach – “Putting young black South Africans at the heart of wildlife photography and conservation”.

A huge thank you to all our sponsors and supporters for making WSO’s work possible. If you can help with financial support, donation of second-hand camera gear or laptops, or offers of work experience, please contact: +27 (0)722 813 157 / mike@wildshotsoutreach.org