The Groot Winterhoek Outdoor Learning Centre (GWOLC)
The Outdoor Learning Centre (GWOLC) in the Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Reserve, near Porterville in the Western Cape represents a partnership between Educo Africa and CapeNature (Western Cape Nature Conservation Board). Educo’s managing of CapeNature’s otherwise unused facility and the provision of our youth development programmes (one of CapeNature’s priority focus areas) makes for a continued mutually beneficial relationship. Educo Africa’s in-residence manager of GWOLC, Ralph Titus, is an ex Educo Youth Service Programme participant (for unemployed youth) and also from the local community of Porterville. He coordinates and manages the Centre with his wife, who serves as the Centre assistant.
The Centre aims to provide a nurturing residential environment for our participants and access to pristine wilderness. The facilities at GWOLC are a vital resource for Educo wilderness courses when adverse weather conditions prevent participants from staying safely out in the adjacent Wilderness Reserve. The Resource and Training rooms are used for facilitated learning and indoor activities. The “low-ropes” challenge course, the outdoor traverse-climbing wall and the grass lawns also provide for various outdoor experiential learning activities.
We use GWOLC as a place of transformation, healing and learning. It is also a model for sustainable living practices that demonstrate care and conservation of our natural resources.
The recycling and energy/waste management systems continue to be a key aspect of the efficient and cost-effective running of GWOLC. The Centre creates awareness and teaches about water saving, energy saving and reduction / recycling / re-using and other mechanisms of sustainable energy. A Biogas system that transforms organic matter into methane gas via a bio-digester continues to be used for cooking thanks to the organic/sewerage waste generated on our programmes. Our continuous effort to showcase our initiatives at the Centre, enables participants to understand the impact that they have on their immediate environment and encourages them to attempt recycling and energy saving in their own homes and communities.
Beneficiaries
During the last year, close to 400 people were able to make use of the Centre. This included just under 360 participants on Educo’s various experiential learning courses, plus youth from other NGO’s, CBO’s and trainees of CapeNature’s own Youth Service Programme.
Educo Africa ran 31 courses at GWOLC of which:
- 17 Leadership Project courses included the following clients: Observatory Primary School, Tsiba Education (free university in Cape Town), Masakh’iSizwe Centre of Excellence (Department of Public Works bursary programme), and Global Development for Peace & Leadership;
- 5 courses for youth at risk from our Child and Youth Development Project included the following clients, McGregor Family Centre, Presidents Award, Music Therapy Community Clinic, and Child & Youth Development practitioners from various NGO’S and government-run agencies;
- 9 courses were from our Sisonke HIV/AIDS Project for the following clients, Department of Social Development, Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), African Solutions for African Problems (ASAP), Yabonga, and caregivers/end-of-life practitioners from various NGO’S and CBO’s.
Being at the Groot Winterhoek Outdoor Learning Centre is a gift and a blessing – a space to rejuvenate, be re-inspired, and rekindle one’s zest for life in a safe and supportive environment.