Young people to volunteer in parks

ELLANIE SMITWINDHOEKThe National Youth Service (NYS) has signed an agreement under which its former trainees will do volunteer work in national parks to gain job experience.The executive director of the environment and tourism ministry, Teofilus Nghitila, says the origin of the agreement dates back to a National Youth Week event held at Kamanjab last year.Afterwards, the ministry developed the Friends of the Parks programme and the National Parks Youth Internship programme.“These programmes seek to involve and empower the youth in a broad range of activities linked to the management of our national parks,” said Nghitila.“Already under the Friends of the Parks programme, the NYS has provided valuable support and assistance to the ministry with regard to the repair and maintenance of the Etosha National Park boundary fence.” He said the National Parks Youth Internship programme will offer internships to NYS graduates linked to the day-to-day management of protected areas. This will include manning the entrance gates to national parks, assisting park visitors, anti-poaching activities such as patrolling and monitoring, maintenance and repair of fences, roads, signage, vehicles and waterholes, as well as wildlife breeding, capture and translocation.Nghitila said the ministry plans to expand these activities to the management of forest resources, including tree planting and cultivation and bush control on state farms.Great opportunity“This agreement presents a great opportunity for our trainees to contribute to the conservation and protection of the country's wildlife resources, which is one of the key contributors to the GDP,” said Dr Felix Musukubili, commissioner of the NYS. The agreement includes aspects such as the rehabilitation of the boundary fence of the Etosha National Park and other national parks, providing manpower for the construction of water points in national parks and conservancies, participation in anti-poaching efforts, tree planting campaigns and distribution of trees and seedlings to identified communities, providing manpower during game capture exercises and cooperating in wildlife management and breeding in respect of the Gemsbokpan farm.

Young people to volunteer in parks

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Namibian Sun 2026-08-11

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Young people to volunteer in parks

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Namibian Sun 2026-08-11

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