The Wilderness Foundation South Africa was announced as the winner in the Social Entrepreneur category for the 2011 Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Awards Programme at the ceremony held last night, 17 November 2011.

Wilderness Foundation director, Andrew Muir was one of four finalists selected for the 2011 Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Awards Programme in the Social entrepreneur category. He was at the ceremony to receive the award.
“This award will help us to build on what has already been established with regards to the Umzi Wethu programme as well as our other social investment programmes. We will have access to the Schwab Foundation’s global network, providing unprecedented opportunities to engage global decision makers,” says Muir.

“I believe that our main strength as a foundation is the integration of social intervention and environmental sustainability. We are not just a conservation-oriented organisation. The Wilderness Foundation recognises that the sustainability of South Africa’s wild lands and wilderness is intrinsically dependant on its social and economic sustainability.”

According to Ajen Sita, CEO for Africa at Ernst & Young, the company has been recognising successful entrepreneurs through the programme for the past 14 years. “We are humbled to be associated with and award these individuals who are making a remarkable difference to our economy and the societies which we operate and live in. We congratulate all finalists for their exceptional performance.”

“Social entrepreneurs are individuals who have created an innovative solution to a seemingly intractable problem facing society. The social enterprises that stand out to us at the Schwab Foundation are those that have been able to build a financially self-sustainable, scalable entity that has already delivered tremendous long term social impact to large number of beneficiaries. I am very excited about the candidates we have received from across Southern Africa as it is a testament to the power of visionary individuals with sound business models to make a transformational positive change in the world”, says Abigail Noble, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship regional Head for Latin America and Africa.

Umzi Wethu harnesses the power of the wilderness, promotes personal wellness in a nurturing home context, provides credible training, and secures sustainable job placements in the hospitality and eco-tourism industry on behalf of the graduates.