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In 2021, some camps are organising camp experiences for you to participate in. We are hopeful that they will be able to go ahead. Camps will follow the local conditions closely, and may have to cancel activities if the local COVID-19 situation forces them to do so. If you have already signed up for a camp-activity you will be informed when this happens. We will update the website also, when such decisions are taken. Please check your own local authority travel advisory to see if you can travel to or return from the camp after the activity. At all times, when at camps, please observe it’s COVID-19 policy (such as wearing masks, social distancing, washing hands, etc).
CAMP TLHOLEGO ECOVILLAGE
Rustenburg, South Africa
Camp Tlholego Ecovillage’s inception was created from the desire to support people who have been continuously oppressed by slavery, colonialism, and apartheid through demonstrating a more regenerative way of living. Tlholego is doing this by creating a new culture that is reconnecting to landscape and spiritual heritage through the restoration of ecosystems as a way of coming home.
The ecovillage occupies 300 acres of South African bush and drylands/grasslands which have been severely degraded by overgrazing and fencing, which also stopped natural predators in balancing prey species and therefore destabilizing animal and plant ecosystems. Bush encroachment, lack of water retention and water harvesting as well as devastating floods have also made life in this part of the world critically dangerous for its inhabitants.
Who is needed
The camp needs volunteers who are skilled in permaculture, monitoring and evaluation, ecosystem planning, and administration. Camp Tlholego also welcomes camp managers, construction workers, and rural livelihood teachers.
Vision and Socio-economic context
Camp Tlholego Ecovillage is a place where learning how to restore degraded land goes hand in hand with the exploration of new ways of living and existing together regeneratively. It is a place where past wounds caused by recurrent social, environmental and racial injustices are seen, held and healed together, and this process is considered key in the development of a new regenerative culture. The camp exists to share the African spiritual and indigenous knowledge systems for the restoration of the land, the soul, and people’s livelihoods.
Tlholego aims to provide visitors with opportunities to remember their own deep spiritual connection with the land as they take part in the ecosystem restoration of the region. New skills for how to restore degraded land are accompanied by this, remembering that they can take back home to continue and expand these values and knowledge with the world. In doing so, this allows the global community to realise their true potential, reconnect to their cultures, ancestry, spirituality, the land, to create a way to regenerate it, and in turn find deep meaning, purpose, and joy.
Seedling camp
Facilities
Camping (basic)-bring your own tent
Camping-advanced/covered accommodation
Cell phone/mobile signal
Wifi
Learning centre
Restoration Activities
Water retention
Tree planting
Composting
Soil restoration
Regenerative Entrepreneurialism
Food planting
Community building
Erosion prevention
Natural building
Fire prevention
Restoration of livelihoods
Agroforestry
Latest News from the Camp
How to apply
Please complete the form below to express your interest in joining the team at Camp Tlholego Ecovillage
READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
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What you must do to ensure your own safety at an Ecosystem Restoration Camp
Your safety is very important to us. Most camps are in locations that are completely safe for you to travel to. Some camps are in locations where there is civil unrest, higher levels of crime, or in areas where there could be severe nature events (earthquakes, tornados, vulcanic eruptions). We strongly advise you to check with your national authority’s travel advisory service to see if there are specific travel advisories for the region you are travelling to. We strongly advise you to comply with that travel advisory. If there is a negative travel advisory for the area you plan to go to, we want to impress on you that it is your decision to not heed the warnings and go. ERC can then not be liable in that situation if something happens to you.
Work at camps is usually safe. The camp coordinators make your safety their highest priority too. But you will be working with tools and sometimes even (heavy) machinery. Sometimes the terrain can be slightly treacherous. Heat or cold can become a problem for people at work that do not take the necessary measures to prevent injury from weather conditions. Especially in remote locations, all people at an Ecosystem Restoration Camp will need to watch out for eachother’s safety. For this reason we ask you to also sign our Code of Conduct, through which you commit to contributing to a safe environment at camps for all that are there with you. Take yours and all other camper’s safety seriously! Together, while watching over eachother, we can restore our ecosystems safely and successfully.